Abstract
Aim: Recently, using natural products has become a rapidly evolving option to treat human malignancies, such as leukemia. Herein, we examined the anti-leukemic effects of flavonoid genistein in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) MOLT-4 cell lines.
Methods: Firstly, MOLT-4 cells were treated with various concentrations of genistein (2.5–40 µg/ml) to evaluate the potent effect of genistein on MOLT-4 cell proliferation using tetrazolium-based MTT assay with 12–72 hours of exposure. Also, apoptosis percentages were estimated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis in MOLT-4 cells upon exposure with genistein 2.5 and 10 µg/ml at 24 hours of treatment. The expression levels of anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP, Mcl-1, survivin, and XIAP were evaluated at mRNA levels by Real-Time PCR within 12–48 hours of treatment.
Results: Based on the analysis, genistein at various concentrations and time points inhibited MOLT-4 cell proliferation compared with control cells. Moreover, it significantly induced apoptosis in the treated cell compared to control cells. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of candidate genes, more evidently, c-FLIP, Mcl-1, and survivin were evidenced upon exposure with genistein.
Conclusion: In sum, consequences exhibited that genistein could stimulate anti-leukemic effects in T-ALL cells mainly by down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein, culminating in apoptosis.
