Induction of Apoptosis in K562 Leukemia Cells Upon Exposure to a Derivative from 4-aryl-4H Chromenes Family

Abstract

Objective: It has been recently reported the activity of 4-aryl-4H-chromenes family to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells. Herein we report a derivative of 4-aryl-4H-chromene compound with higher apoptotic activity against Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K562. The cells were seeded in 24-well plates at 1×105 cells/well and treated with 5-30 nM of the 2-amino-4-(3-bromo 4,5 dimethoxy-phenyl) -3-cyano -7-(dimethylamino) -4H-chromene (3-BMPC). This compound was found to be highly active growth inhibitor with IC50 of 10±3.1 nM as determined by MTT assay. Proliferation of K562 cells was diminished by more than 80% and viability was decreased by about 50% upon 96 h of treatment with 30 nM concentration of the compound. Apoptosis as the mechanism of cell death was investigated morphologically by Hoechst 33258 staining, as well as the formation of DNA ladder. K562 cells underwent apoptosis upon a single dose (at IC50 value) of the compound. These data further suggest that 3-BMPC may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of leukemia.

Keywords

• Apoptosis
• 4-aryl-4H-chromenes
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia