Effect of bcr/abl fusion gene siRNA on proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cells

Objective To investigate the effect of bcr/abl fusion gene small interfering RNA(siRNA)on the proliferation and apoptosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML)K562 cells.Methods A 21nt siRNA targeting b3:a2 mRNA of bcr/abl fusion gene was designed,synthesized,and transfected into K562 cells.The proliferation inhibition rate was measured by WST-8 method;The expression of bcr/abl mRNA of K562 cells was detected by RT-PCR;The cell cycle was determined by Phosphatidylinositol(PI)staining;The apoptosis rate was detected by Annexin V-fluorescencein isothiocyanate/phosphatidylinositol(PI)double staining;The morphology of apoptosis was examined by Hochest 33258 staining.Results ①Bcr/abl siRNA significantly inhibited K562 cells proliferation 24 h,48 h and 72 h after transfection.②Bcr/abl siRNA significantly down-regulated mRNA expression level.There was no significant difference between among different concentration bcr/abl siRNA groups(P0.05).③Cell cycle of K562 cells was blocked in G1 phase after bcr/abl siRNA transfection.④Apoptotic cells appeared early after bcr/abl siRNA transfection.The early apoptotic rates were not significantly different among different concentration bcr/abl siRNA groups(P0.05).Cells presented karyopyknoses,nuclear-set and apoptotic bodies.Conclusion The specific bcr/abl fusion gene siRNA significantly inhibits the expression of bcr/abl fusion gene,inhibits K562 cell proliferation and induces its apoptosis,but the efficacy was not dose-dependent.