OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of indomethacin on the proliferation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in K562 cells.

METHODSThe cell growth of K562 cells treated with different concentrations of indomethacin was assessed with MTT assay, and the colony-forming ability of the cells was evaluated by colony-forming assay. The mRNA expressions of BCR/ABL and β-catenin were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein expressions of pBCR/ABL, total BCR/ABL, β-catenin, pGSK-3β and c-myc were analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTSIndomethacin significantly suppressed the growth and colony-forming ability of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Indomethacin treatment dose-dependently decreased the protein level of pBCR/ABL and total BCR/ABL without affecting bcr-abl mRNA expressions. Compared with the control groups, indomethacin-treated cells showed obviously decreased mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin and decreased protein expressions of pGSK-3β and c-myc.

CONCLUSIONIndomethacin inhibits the proliferation of K562 cells by suppressing the activity of bcr-abl-Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; metabolism ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; metabolism