Protective autophagy or autophagic death: effects of BEZ235 on chronic myelogenous leukemia

Pengliang Xin,1 Wenqian Xu,1 Xiongpeng Zhu,1 Chuntuan Li,1 Yan Zheng,1 Tingjin Zheng,2 Wenzhao Cheng,3 Qunyi Peng11Department of Haematology, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Central Laboratory, Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Stem Cell Translational Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiongpeng ZhuQuanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, No. 250 East Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 1 380 599 8581Email Xiongpengzhu@tom.comPurpose: To investigate the effects of BEZ235 on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.Methods: MTS assay was used to detect the proliferation of CML cells. The proteins expression were detected by Western blot assay. The effects of BEZ235 on autophagy in CML cells were verified through transmission electron microscopy and evaluated by laser confocal microscopy. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. A xenograft model was established to observe the therapeutic effect of BEZ235 in vivo.Results: BEZ235 could inhibit the proliferation of CML cells; CQ and 3-MA could increase the proliferation inhibition and Z-VAD-FMK can reduce the proliferation inhibition of BEZ235 on CML cells (P