Research on the relationship between artesunate and Raji cell autophagy and apoptosis of Burkitt's lymphoma and its mechanism.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Artesunate (ART) on the Raji cell proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy with Raji cells of Burkitt's lymphoma as the objects of study, and to investigate the anti-tumor mechanism of ART. MATERIALS AND METHODS Morphological examinations of apoptotic and autophagy were performed. MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation after ART treatment. The changes in cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometer. The expression of Beclin-1 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. The expressions of Beclin-1, LC3-I/II and Caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS After Raji cells had been treated with ART, typical morphological changes of cell apoptosis were observed, and the proliferation activity of Raji cells was significantly inhibited in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Compared with that in control group, the apoptotic rate in the treatment group was significantly increased and the expression of the apoptosis-related protein was significantly different. ART induced Raji cells to produce autophagosome, and the expressions of relevant autophagy proteins were significantly different, inducing the autophagy. CONCLUSIONS ART can significantly inhibit the proliferation of Raji cells of Burkitt's lymphoma and induce the apoptosis and autophagy excitation of Raji cells with the co-existence of autophagy and apoptosis.