Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) is a component of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic family that plays a key role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Despite tremendous improvements toward identification of the role of MCL-1 in
leukemia progression, the functional significance and molecular mechanism behind the effect of MCL-1 overexpression on the proliferation of B-cell precursor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) has not been clarified. In addition, less well appreciated is the effect of MCL-1 inhibition on the potentiation of
doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in BCP-ALL cell lines. In the present study, we aimed to shed light on the anti-
cancer properties of
S63845, a potent Mcl-1 inhibitor, in BCP-ALL cell lines either alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic
drug. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mononuclear cells from patients with
Pre-B ALL and BCP-ALL cell lines were treated with
S63845 in presence or absence of
doxorubicin, induction of apoptosis was evaluated using
Annexin-V/PI staining kit.
mRNA and
protein expression levels were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Our results declared that inhibition of Mcl-1 impairs cell growth and induces apoptosis in
pre-B ALL cells through activation of
caspase-3 and up-regulation of a repertoire of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family. Additionally,
S63845 acts synergically with
doxorubicin to induce apoptosis in BCP-ALL cell lines.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data declared that MCL-1 inhibition alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent is considered an appealing strategy for the induction of apoptosis in BCP-ALL cells.