The effects of CTP-OD1-HA and CTP-OD2-HA fusion peptide on subcutaneous xenograft of leukemia K562 cells in nude mice

Objective: To investigate the effects of fusion peptide cytoplasmic transduction peptide-oligomerization domain 1-hemagglutinin (CTP-OD1-HA) and CTP-OD2-HA on subcutaneous xenograft of leukemia K562 cells in nude mice. Methods: K562 cells were pre-treated with CTP-OD-HA (as a positive control), CTP-HA (as a negative control), PBS (as a blank control), CTP-OD1-HA and CTP-OD2-HA, respectively, then the cells were injected into nude mice subcutaneously. The growth of the subcutaneous xenograft was observed. The apoptosis of the tumor cells in subcutaneous xenograft was detected by TUNEL method. The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in subcutaneous xenograft were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The volumes of the subcutaneous xenografts in CTP-OD1-HA group and CTP-OD2-HA group were smaller than that in CTP-HA group (P < 0.05), with the change of cavitation apoptosis. The apoptotic change of tumor cells was significant in CTP-OD1-HA group and CTP-OD2-HA group by TUNEL method (P < 0.05). The expression level of apoptosis-associated protein Bax was higher in CTP-OD1-HA group and CTP-OD2-HA group than that in CTP-HA group (P < 0.05), whereas the expression level of Bcl-2 was lower (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CTP-OD1-HA and CTP-OD2-HA fusion peptide can inhibit the tumorigenicity of leukemia K562 cells in nude mice and promote the apoptosis. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2013.11.003