[Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of telomerase gene enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia cells].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) gene antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on cisplatin-induced apoptosis in cultured primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.

METHODS

Cell surviving fraction was determined using the trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Apoptosis was detected by DNA gel electrophoresis and flow cytomertric cell cycle analysis.

RESULTS

Treatment with cisplatin after 24 hours of exposure of the cells to ASODN significantly reduced the number of viable AML and CML cells. However, there was no difference on AML and CML cells survival between those treated with sense oligodeoxynucleotide (SODN)/cisplatin combination and cisplatin alone. Agarose gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA from the blasts of AML and CML treated with ASODN and cisplatin combination for 72 hours showed typical DNA "ladder", but DNA from AML or CML cells treated with SODN plus cisplatin or cisplatin alone did not. The percentage of apoptotic AML and CML cells treated with cisplatin for 48 or 72 hours after 24 hours of exposure to ASODN (42.68%, 35.72%) was significantly different with that of apoptotic cells treated with SODN plus cisplatin (29.02%, 23.84%) or cisplatin alone (27.53%, 21.02%).

CONCLUSION

hTERT ASODN could enhance the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of AML and CML cells.