Antagonistic effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker candesartan on angiotensin II-induced proliferation of primary acute myeloid leukemia cells

AIM: To explore the antagonistic effect and mechanism of candesartan on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced proliferation of primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML)cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to observe the proliferation effect of Ang II on primary AML cells and normal bone marrow mononuclear cells, and the antagonistic effects of candesartan and PD123319 (an antagonist of AT2R) were also observed. Akt phosphorylation was detected by Western blotting when the cells were treated with candesartan and a PI3K inhibitor LY294002.RESULTS: Compared with the control cells, Ang II significantly increased the proliferation of AML cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). Ang II did not stimulate the proliferation of normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. The proliferative effect of Ang II was effectively blocked by the AT1R blocker candesartan (P<0.05). PI3K inhibitor strongly repressed the Ang II-induced cell proliferation (P<0.05). Candesartan significantly reduced Akt phosphorylation promoted by Ang II on primary AML cells (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Candesartan effectively inhibits Ang II-induced proliferation of primary AML cells by down-regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, indicating a new possible treatment mechanism in some AML cells.