BMP4 is involved in the chemoresistance of myeloid leukemia cells through regulating autophagy-apoptosis balance

Cancer Invest. 2013 Oct;31(8):555-62. doi: 10.3109/07357907.2013.834925. Epub 2013 Sep 18.

Abstract

This study showed that silencing BMP4 expression significantly activated caspase-2, 3, and 9, while decreasing Matrigel colony formation in Cytarabine (Ara-C)-treated leukemia HL-60 cells. In contrast, Ara-C significantly upregulated Atg5 and Beclin-1 expression, the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I, and CDK1 and cyclin B1 expression in leukemia cells expressing BMP4. BafA significantly sensitized the apoptotic effect of Ara-C in leukemia cells. Injection of Ara-C significantly inhibited tumor growth in mice inoculated with leukemia cells with BMP4 silenced. In conclusion, BMP4 plays a crucial role in the chemoresistance of leukemia cells through the activation of autophagy and subsequent inhibition of apoptosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Apoptosis*
  • Autophagy*
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • Beclin-1
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / metabolism*
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / biosynthesis
  • Caspase 2 / metabolism
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 9 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cyclin B1 / biosynthesis
  • Cytarabine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / physiopathology*
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Up-Regulation
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • ATG5 protein, human
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • BECN1 protein, human
  • BMP4 protein, human
  • Beclin-1
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • CCNB1 protein, human
  • Cyclin B1
  • MAP1LC3A protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Cytarabine
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase
  • Caspase 2
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 9