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Priming with GM-CSF instead of G-CSF enhances CAG-induced apoptosis of acute monocytic leukemia cells in vitro

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Abstract

High expression of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor has been found in myelomonocytic or monocytic subtypes (M4/M5) of acute myeloid leukemia. Herein, we aimed to improve the effect of CAG [Ara-C, ACR, and G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor)] regimen for acute monocytic leukemia by replacing G-CSF with GM-CSF. Results showed that the percentage of cells in S phase was higher with GM-CSF than with G-CSF treatment at 20 ng/mL (P < 0.05). When THP-1 and SHI-1 cells were primed with 20 ng/mL G-CSF or GM-CSF followed by Ara-C and ACR, cell proliferation rate in the CAGM (Ara-C, ACR, and GM-CSF) regimen was lower than in the CAG regimen (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CAGM regimen induced more obvious cell apoptosis than CAG regimen probably by reducing Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P < 0.05). Similar results were seen in primary cells from M5 patients. Collectively, our study suggests that priming with GM-CSF may be more effective than G-CSF in CAG regimen in acute monocytic leukemia.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Jiangsu Provincial Special Program of Medical Science (BL2012005) and Jiangsu Province’s Key Medical Center (ZX201102).

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  1. Meiqing Lei and Limin Liu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis of Ministry of Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Suzhou Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Meiqing Lei, Limin Liu & Depei Wu

  2. Department of Hematology in Haikou Municipal People’s Hospital, Affiliated Haikou Hospital Xiangya School of Medicine Central South University, Haikou, 570208, Hainan, People’s Republic of China

    Meiqing Lei

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  1. Meiqing Lei
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Correspondence to Depei Wu.

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Lei, M., Liu, L. & Wu, D. Priming with GM-CSF instead of G-CSF enhances CAG-induced apoptosis of acute monocytic leukemia cells in vitro. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 84, 265–273 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-019-03857-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-019-03857-8

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