Effect of berberine on cancer cell viability of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in in vitro

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. CLL generally affects older people by the accumulation and proliferation of B lymphocytes with markers CD19, CD20, CD5 and CD23 specified. In this way, berberine, including natural compounds with isoquinoline alkaloids structure, that has a potential anti-cancer effect. Berberin decreased survival and increased apoptosis of cancer cell lines in in vitro. In this study, the effect of berberine on cell survival and apoptosis in PBMC patients and healthy donors in the presence or absence of berberine and also comparison between bernerine and fludarabine were investigated.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 12 patients and 6 healthy donors were isolated by using ficoll technique and PBMC cells seeded into the 96 well culture plate using medium RPMI1640 AB serum with doses ranging from 5 to 200 μM of Berberine. The survival and apoptosis percentage of these cells was measured by MTT and Annexin V/7AAD (Flowcytometery).
Our results suggest a reduction in PBMC survival in CLL patients treated with berberine with P0.05). Correspondingly, increasing PBMC apoptosis in patients treated with berberine was observed rather than the cells were not adjacent to berberine (P0.05). However, we don’t have this increasing in healthy donors.
Berberine leads to reduced viability and elevated levels of apoptosis in PBMCs of CLL Patients. Berberin showed no significant effects on PBMCs of healthy donor viability and apoptosis. Apoptosis induction by berberin is comparable to fludarabine as a standard treatment for CLL patients. Berberine might be a good candidate for clinical trial for CLL patients