Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Targeted silencing of CDX2 gene with siRNA enhanced vincristine-induced inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of leukemia K562 cells

Hong Li, Zhongjing Han, Xue Jiang, Lanzhi Ma, Yun Li

Department of Hematology, Daqing Field General, Daqing 163001, Heilongjiang Province, China;

For correspondence:- Yun Li Email: lihong202208@163.com

Accepted: 25 August 2022 Published: 30 September 2022

Citation: Li H, Han Z, Jiang X, Ma L, Li Y. Targeted silencing of CDX2 gene with siRNA enhanced vincristine-induced inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of leukemia K562 cells. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(9):1845-1849 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i9.5

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of targeted silencing of CDX2 with siRNA on vincristine-induced inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induction in leukemia K562 cells.

Methods: K562 cells were divided into untreated group, vincristine group, blank group, and CDX2-siRNA group. The expression of CDX2 gene after CDX2-siRNA transfection was determined by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting, while MTT and flow cytometric procedures were used to evaluate the effect of vincristine on proliferation and apoptotic changes in K562 cells.

Results: Protein expression of CDX2 did not change significantly in non-treated cells, vincristine group and blank group, while the expression of CDX2 protein in cells of CDX2-siRNA group was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) while MTT assay results showed that the absorbance of CDX2-siRNA cells was significantly lower than those of the other three groups at 12, 24 and 48 h after CDX2 gene silencing. Flow cytometry showed markedly higher percentage apoptosis of CDX2-siRNA group than in other groups at 12, 24 and 48 h after CDX2 gene silencing. There was no difference in apoptosis level between vincristine group and blank group, but apoptosis was higher in these groups than in untreated group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Silencing CDX2 gene via targeting with siRNA enhances vincristine-induced suppression of growth and apoptotic changes in leukemia K562 cells, thereby enhancing the anti-tumor effect of vincristine.

Keywords: CDX2 gene, Vincristine, Leukemia, Proliferation, Apoptosis