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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Apoptosis, Astragalus propinquus, Carbohydrates, Caspase 3, Cell Proliferation, Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors, Drugs, Chinese Herbal, Humans, K562 Cells, Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive, Phytotherapy, Plant Lectins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2.
user
Does astragalus membranaceus lectin ( AML ) induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in human leukemia cells? Context: Recently, plant lectins have attracted great interest due to their various biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-fungal and anti-viral activities. We have reported earlier concerning anti-proliferation of human cancer cell lines by a galactose-binding lectin (AML), from a Chinese herb, ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS: In the present study, detailed investigations into the mechanism of such anti-proliferation properties have been carried out. Mechanism of apoptosis initiation in K562 cells by AML was investigated by morphology, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. AML induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner in the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line, K562. Furthermore, we observed that cytotoxicity and apoptosis of K562 cells induced by AML were completely abolished in presence of lactose or galactose.
assistant
Our results suggest that AML could act as a potential anti-cancer drug. Final Decision: yes