The study was purposed to investigate the synergistic reversal effect of Chinese medicine compound FFJZ in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA) on the multidrug resistance (MDR) of human leukemia K562/VCR cell line, as to search effective combination of MDR modulators. MTT (methyl-thazol-tetrazolinum) assay were used to determine the cytotoic and reversal effects on K562/VCR cell line, FCM (flow cytometry) was used to assess the intracellular adriamycin (ADM) concentration and the expression of P-gp in cells. The results showed that the FFJZ in combination with CsA could reverse the drug-resistance of K562/VCR cells and increase the sensitivity K562/VCR cells to adriamycin. They had not the toxic effect on the K562/VCR cells in effective dose and no significant influence on P-gp positive rate of the K562/VCR cells. It is concluded that the FFJZ in combination with CsA may become a safe and effective multidrug resistance-reversing agent with low toxicity in leukemia chemotherapy.
Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

This study was purposed to explore the biological effects suppressing growth and inducing apoptosis of Chinese medicine compound FFJZ on leukemia cell line K562 and its possible mechanisms of FFJZ. The growth status of K562 cells cultured in vitro was determined by trypan blue exclusion test; the suppressive effect of FFJZ on K562 cells was assayed by MTT method; the inducing apoptosis of FFJZ on K562 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that after K562 cells were treated with FFJZ in certain concentration range, the inhibited rate of FFJZ on K562 cell growth was remarkably increased along with enhancement of FFJZ, the IC(50) value of FFJZ on K562 cells was 5.6 mg/ml after treatment for 48 hours. At 4 mg/ml of FFJZ the early apoptosis predominated in K562 cells, at 8 mg/ml of FFJZ the late apoptosis ratio significantly increased. As compared with control group without FFJZ, there was significant difference (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the FFJZ in range of certain concentration can suppress growth and proliferation of K562 cells and induce their apoptosis in concentration-dependent manner, the mechanism of which may be associated to inducing apoptosis of K562 cells.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells