Preliminary results indicate resveratrol affects proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cells by regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE: PTEN-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is widely involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and invasion. Resveratrol (Resv) is a natural botanical ingredient involved in several biological activities. It is still unclear in terms of whether Resv may exert anti-leukemia effects by regulating the PTEN-PI3K/AKT pathway. This study investigated the effect of Resv on leukemia cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating PTEN-PI3K/AKT pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Human normal peripheral blood PBMC cells, and human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB-4 and HL-60 cells were cultured in vitro. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) mRNA expression. Western blot was adopted to test PTEN protein expression. HL-60 and NB-4 cells were treated with 0, 5, 10, and 20 mu M Resv, respectively. Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit8 (CCK-8) assay. The level of caspase-3 was measured by Western blot. HL-60 cells were divided into control group, 20 mu M Resv treatment group, and Resv+PTEN inhibitor SF1670 group. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was assessed by EdU staining. RESULTS: Compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), PTEN mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in NB-4 and HL-60 cells. Resv significantly inhibited the proliferation activity in HL-60 and NB-4 cells, and increased the activity of caspase-3. Resv treatment up-regulated the expression of PTEN and reduced the expression of p-AKT protein in HL-60 cells. However, Resv treatment markedly suppressed the proliferation of HL-60 and induced apoptosis. SF1670 treatment in the presence of Resv significantly antagonized the down-regulation of p-AKT protein expression induced by Resv, resulting in decreased apoptosis and enhanced cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Resv can up-regulate PTEN expression and inhibit the activity of PI3K/AKT pathway to play an anti-leukemia effect through suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.