Effect of Quercetin on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Multiple Myeloma Cells and Its Related Mechanism

Abstract

To investigate the effect of quercetin (que) on proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cell line NCI-H929. NCI-H929 cells were routinely cultured, and cells in logarithmic growth phase were taken and used for experiments. After treatment of NCI-H929 cells with Que of 50, 100 and 200 µmol/ L for 24, 48 and 72 hours, the proliferation level of cells was detected by using MTT method; after treatment of NCI-H929 cells with Que of 100 and 200 µmol/ L for 24 hours, the cell apoptosis level was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, the changes of cell cycle was analysis by flow cytometry with PI marking; the expression of apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, PARP, BCL-2 and cell cycle-related proteins P53, P21, P27, CDK4, and the activiation of ERK and ATK were detected by Western blot. Que of different concentration could inhibit cell proliferation with time and dose dependent manner. The flow cytometry showed that Que could significantly increase the cell apoptosis and arrest NCI-H929 cells in the G2/M phase. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that Que could activate the apoptosis-related proteins, such as caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and PARP, and then inhibited the expression of BCL-2. Que could promote the expression of P53, P21 and P27, however, it could inhibited the CDK4 expression in NCI-H929 cells. Que could decrease the phosphorylation levels of p-ERK and p-AKT in NCI-H929 cells. Quercetin mediates anti-myeloma effects through inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and down-regulating ERK and AKT pathways in human myeloma cells.