Inhibitive effects of genistein on proliferation of leukemia K562 cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of genistein on proliferation of leukemia K562 cells. Methods: The cell growth was measured by using MTT assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by using flow cytometry and cells morphology. Expression of WT1 mRNA was detected by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: After exposed to 2 to 30 μg/ml of genistein for 72 hours, proliferation of K562 cells were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner (P0.01), and IC 50 was 11.4 μg/ml. Genistein (30 μg/ml) induced a distinctive G 2 /M phase arrest at 12 hours, the percent of cells in G 2 /M phase reached 93% at 24 hours, but mitosis index showed no difference with control. Genistein (30μg/ml) decreased the expression of WT1 mRNA in K562 cells from the 3rd hour and reached 30% of the control at 24 hours.Conclusion: Genistein can inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells ,induce G 2 or early M phase arrest, and decrease the expression of WT1mRNA.