[Apoptosis of K562 cells induced by extract of Agkistrodon Halys' venom]

The study was purposed to investigate the effect of extract of Agkistrodon Halys venom on proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cells. The inhibition of K562 cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay; The morphologic changes of K562 cells was observed by microscopy; the apoptosis of K562 cells was measured by flow cytometry; the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in K562 cells was detected by Western blot. The results showed that when K562 cells were treated with 0, 1, 10, 20 microg/ml of the extraction for 48 hours, the apoptosis rates were 2.1%, 21.3%, 49.7%, 70.1%, respectively. The proliferation of K562 cells was obviously inhibited in dose-dependent manner. Typical morphologic changes significantly appeared in the extract-treated K562 cells. The extract obviously inhibited the activity of ERK in K562 cells. It is concluded that the extract of Agkistrodon Halys' venom can inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells and induce apoptosis of K562 cells.