Abstract
Cytarabine (AraC) has been the primary treatment agent for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the past 30 years, but the precise mechanism of its action is not completely known. Here we assessed the role of ERK5 in AraC-induced cell death in AML cell lines HL60 and U937 using ERK5 inhibitors BIX02189 and XMD8-92. We report that inhibition of MEK5/ERK5 activity reduces AraC-induced cell death, DNA damage, the upregulated DNA damage biomarkers, and produced G2 phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, the pro-survival protein P-Bcl2 Ser70 was found to be associated with decreased AraC-induced cell death following XMD8-92 treatment, suggesting a regulatory role of ERK5 on Bcl2 phosphorylation. Our study shows that the full potency of AraC cytotoxicity requires optimal ERK5 activity, suggesting a novel role of ERK5 in cancer chemotherapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1583-1589, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
