RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To observe matrine-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells in relation to activation of the apoptotic pathway in vitro. METHODS: K562 cells were cultured in the presence or absence of matrine at different concentrations for 4 days, and the morphological and ultramicrostructural changes of the cells were observed using inverted microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related protein p27kip1 was detected by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to untreated K562 cells, the cells treated with matrine at 0.10 g/L exhibited apoptostic characteristics in the cellular morphology and ultramicrostructure, with the expression of p27kip1 protein upregulated in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Matrine-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells is associated with cell apoptosis, and upregulation of p27kip1 protein expression may play a crucial role in the process of apoptosis.