Journal of Cell Signaling
Open Access

Abstract

Manipulation of Cellular Redox State was Essential for Triggering Erythroid Differentiation of K562 Cells by Mycophenolic Acid

Elahe Mirzarazi and Razieh Yazdanparast*

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play important roles in a variety of normal cellular functions and various pathological events. Uncontrolled ROS production in various types of cancer cells has been globally reported and considered as a hallmark for new drug developments. Accordingly, in this study, we planned to investigate the probable roles of oxidants on erythroid differentiation of K562 cells under the influence of Mycophenolic acid (MPA).

Based on our results, MPA attenuated the intracellular SOD activity to provide a suitable redox environment for hemoglobinization of the exposed cells, while the cellular content of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase were augmented at the initial times of MPA-induced erythroid differentiation. These variations were accompanied by the significant reduction in the cellular ROS content in the first 8 h of MPA exposure followed by an enormous increase in ROS content by the 24 h of exposure. Furthermore, while the cells were undergoing erythroid differentiation by MPA, it became evident that p27^kip1, apart from its role in cell cycle arrest, was functioning as a sensor of the intracellular oxidants.

Overall, it might be concluded that MPA-guided erythroid differentiation was strongly associated with manipulation of ROS content of the chronic myelogenous leukemia cells.