Effect of a seashell protein Haishengsu on cell growth and expression of apoptosis genes in leukemia K562 cells.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of a seashell protein Haishengsu (HSS), an extract from a shellfish Tegillarca granosa, on cell growth and the expression of apoptosis genes in leukemia K562 cells. METHODS Cultured K562 cells were treated with HSS at various concentrations (10-40 mg/L). The cell cycle, cell growth and the expression of apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2 and apoptosis promoting gene bax were evaluated. RESULTS HSS, 20mg/L, inhibited cell cycle in the G0/G1 and S phases. HSS, 20mg/L, also inhibited the growth of K562 cells over time. Expression of bcl-2 gene in the HSS 20mg/L (58.8%+/-4.7%) and HSS 40 mg/L group (26.6%+/-2.1%) were lower than in the control group (91.0+/-8.7%, P < 0.01). Expression of bax gene in the HSS 20mg/L (77.7+/-3.6%) and 40 mg/L group (90.6+/-3.7%) were higher than in the control group (10.9+/-6.6%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION HSS suppresses leukemia K562 cell growth by inhibiting the G0/G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. It also induces apoptosis in these leukemia cells by reducing the expression of apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2, and increasing the expression of apoptosis promoting gene bax. Further studies are required to investigate the clinical efficacy of HSS in leukemia.