SIRT1 is a critical regulator of K562 cell growth, survival, and differentiation.

Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACi) has emerged as a promising approach in the treatment of many types of cancer, including leukemias. Among the HDACs, Class III HDACs, also known as sirtuins (SIRTs), are unique in that their function is directly related to the cell's metabolic state through their dependency on the co-factor NAD(+). In this study, we examined the relation between SIRTs and the growth, survival, and differentiation of K562 erythroleukemia cells.