[Inductive Effect of 5-Azacitidine on Apoptosis of Multiple Myeloma Cell lines and Its Mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the response of multiple myeloma (MM) cells to 5-azacitidine and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: Two multiple myeloma-derived cell lines U266 and H929 were used in this study. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8, flow cytometry and acridine orange staining. The cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. The expression of BCL-2, BAX was assessed by RT-PCR. The expressions of caspase-3 and p-ERK1/2 were assessed by Western blot.

Results: The BCL-2/BAX ratio decreased, the activity of caspase-3 and p-ERK1/2 increased, the cell cycle was arrested in G2/M phase after treatment with 5-azacitidine. The 5-azacitidine inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: 5-azacitidine exerts apoptosis-inducing and grow-inhibiting effects on MM cell lines, its mechanism may be related with the decrease of BCL-2/BAX ratio, caspase-3 activation and the arrest of cell cycle.