Effect of curcumin and sorafenib on AKT gene expression in KG1 and U937 cell lines

Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterozygous hematologic malignancy that is manifested by the     accumulation of hematopoietics stem cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Anticancer effects and  cryotoxic activity of curcumin have been proven frequently in many cancers. Sorafenib is known as an inhibitor of angiogenesis which prevent cells’ survival. In the present study, the effects of curcumin and sorafenib and their combination were evaluated on AML cells. 

In this experimental study, U937 and KG-1 cells were treated with different concentration of curcumin and sorafenib and their combination.  MTT assay was applied to assess the viability of cells.  Percentage of apoptotic cells was evaluated by annexin PI staining. Also Real Time PCR was performed to investigte the level of  AKT mRNA expression. 

Our data showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly increased in response to treatment with  curcumin (40µM in KG-1 and U937 cell lines), sorafenib (5 µM and 7 µM in U937 and KG-1, respectively) and their combination. Moreover, the mRNA level of AKT gene was downregulated in KG-1 and U937 cells. 

Conclusions:  

Our results suggest that combination of curcumin and sorafenib could lead to promote apoptosis. Furthurermore, downregulation of AKT gene shows that these agents can be considered as effective agents on AML cells.