[Dihydroartemisinin Induces AML cell Apoptosis by Inhibition of PTEN/AKT pathway]

To study the effects of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.

The effects of DHA on the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells and the inhibitory effect of Z-VAD-FMK on the DHA-induced cell apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 assay. The expression level of cleaved-caspased 3 was detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to quantify the protein expression of PTEN, p-Akt, AKT, β-actin, and the apoptosis-associated proteins, such as C-PARP, Cleaved-caspase3 and Caspase3 respectively.

DHA induced the AML cell apoptosis with concentration-dependent manner (r_Kasumi-1=-0.959, r_KG-1=-0.956). The DHA could induce the accumulation of cleaved-caspase 3 and C-PARP in AML cells, activate PTEN gene and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. Apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK could partially restored the activity of DHA-inhibited cell proliferation.

Dihydroartemisinin induces AML cell apoptosis by inhibition of PTEN/AKT pathway. Dihydroartemisinin is expected to be a safe and effective drug for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.