OBJECTIVETo investigate the application value of Angelica polysaccharide (APS) on proliferation and differentiation of human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

METHODSThe effect of APS in inhibitory proliferation and inducing differentiation of human erythroleukemia K562 cells was studied by modern experimental hematologic techniques such as cell counting and culture, flowcytometry, morphology, cytochemistry and cell differential immune phenotyping.

RESULTSAPS could significantly inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro and prevent the cell from entering the active proliferative phase (P < 0.05). After being induced by APS, the differentiation of K562 cells to erythrocyte series and granulo-monocyte series increased, positive rate of benzidine, glycogen and peroxidase stain elevated, and cell surface differential antigen CD15 expression promoted significantly (P < 0.05), while C-MYC expression of K562 cells induced by APS induction lowered significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAPS could not only inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro, but also induce the differentiation of K562 cells toward erythrocyte and granulocyte series. It may be a natural inducer with promising prospect of development and application.