Effects of Compound Zhebei Granule () Combined with Doxorubicin on Expression of Specific Surface Antigens in Mice with Transplanted KG-1a Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Compound Zhebei Granule (, CZG) combined with doxorubicin hydrochloride (adriamycin, ADM) on specific surface antigens in mice with KG-1a transplanted cells.

METHODS: A subcutaneous tumor xenograft model was established by injection of the acute myeloid leukemia cell line KG-1a into the axillary flfl anks of BALB/c-nude mice. Twenty-four tumor bearing mice were divided into 4 groups according to a random number table, including normal saline control group, ADM group, high-dose CZG group, and mid-dose CZG group, with 6 mice in each group. Drug administration occurred on the 14th day after cell inoculation, and normal saline control group mice were gavaged with normal saline at 0.2 mL/10 g every other day. ADM group mice were intraperitoneally injected with ADM 1 mg/kg [conversion of adults, 40 mg/(m2 •d)] every other day. High- and mid-dose CZG groups mice were gavaged with CZG at the dose of 8 and 4 g/kg respectively every other day and intraperitoneally injected with ADM (1 mg/kg) every other day. The administration period lasted for 10 days. The tumor xenografts were made into mononuclear cell suspensions after dissection, and the expressions of specific surface antigens, including CD34+ CD38- , CD34+ CD38- CD123+ , CD34+ CD38- CD96+ and CD34+ CD38- CD33+ , in KG-1a cell line tumor xenografts were detected by flfl ow cytometry.

RESULTS: Compared with the control and ADM groups, expression of CD34+ CD38- in the two CZG groups was significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, expression of CD34+ CD38- CD123+ in the two CZG groups decreased (P<0.05). The high-dose CZG group showed more obvious outcomes compared with the ADM group (P<0.05). Compared with the control and ADM groups, the expression of CD34+ CD38- CD96+ and CD34+ CD38- CD33+ in the two CZG groups decreased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: CZG combined with doxorubicin could reduce the expression of CD34+ CD38- , CD34+ CD38- CD123+ , CD34+ CD38- CD96+ and CD34+ CD38- CD33+ in KG-1a cell line tumor xenografts, which shows that CZG could target leukemia stem cells and play a role in chemosensitization.