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Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Ex Vivo Treatment Response of Primary Tumors and/or Associated Metastases for Preclinical and Clinical Development of Therapeutics
Published on: October 2, 2014
[Effect of Bmi-1 Expression on Chemotherapy Sensitivity in THP-1 Cells]
Si-Cong Dong1, Ru-Nan Jing1, Hao Pei1
1Department of Clinical Hematology of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, Liaoning Province, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of Bmi-1 expression on the chemosensitivity of THP-1 cells and its relative mechanism.
Methods:
The pGenesil-2-Bmi-1 1 siRNA, p-MSCV-Bmi-1 plasmid was transfected into THP-1 cells to reduce or increase the expression of Bmi-1. The expression of Bmi-1 mRNA and protein was verified by PCR and Western blot. The effect of camptothecin (CPT) on the proliferation and chemosensitivity of THP-1 cells affected by Bmi-1 gene were detected by MTT assay. The expression of DNA double-strand breaks marker-γ-H2AX was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry. The expression of Cytochrome C, Caspase 3, Bax and BCL-2 was detected by Western blot.
Results:
Silencing Bmi-1 could inhibit proliferation and enhance the sensitivity of THP-1 cells to CPT, while overexpressed Bmi-1 could promote the cell proliferation and attenucate sensitivity of THP-1 cells to CPT. Silencing Bmi-1 could enhance CPT-induced DNA double-strand breaks, decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and promote CPT-induced apoptosis. While increasing Bmi-1 gene expression could attenuate CPT-induced DNA double-strand breaks, enhamce mitochondrial membrane potential and significantly reduce CPT-induced apoptosis of cells.
Conclusion:
Bmi-1 expression could influence the sensitivity of THP-1 cells to CPT, and its relative mechanism may relate to DNA double-strand breaks and endogenous apoptotic pathways.
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