OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and possible mechanism of bromo-domain inhibitors (JQ1) on proliferation inhibition and inducing apoptosis of acute T lymphocyte leukemia cell line (Jurkat) .

METHODSJurkat cell line was treated by JQ1 at different concentrations. MTT was used to detect the cell proliferation inhibition rate. The flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC/PI fluorescence staining was used to detect the changes of apoptosis rate, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect c-Myc/Notch1 gene expression levels.

RESULTSWith the increasing of drug concentration and prolonging of time, the inhibitory rate of Jurkat cell growth was enhanced in time-dose dependent manner; Jurkat cells was treated by 0.8, 1.6, and 4 µ mol/LJQ1 for 48 h and 72 h, the cell apoptosis rate was enhanced with the increase of drug concentration and prolonging of time, and the difference was statistically different in comparison with the control group(P<0.05); PCR detection indicated that Notch1 and c-Myc mRNA expression was reduced in 48 h after JQ1 treatment, which was statistically different from the control group,(P<0.05) .

CONCLUSIONJQ1 can effectively inhibit the growth of Jurkat cell line, and potentially induce apoptosis through Notch1 and c-Myc gene. Hence JQ1 may be one of new methods used to treat T-ALL.