Lithium Chloride Inhibits Proliferation of THP-1 Leukemia Cells and Activates Wnt Signaling Pathway

Objective To explore the effects of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of leukemia cells THP-1, and to investigate its effect on Wnt signaling pathway. Methods THP-1 cells were treated with LiCl at different concentrations and time. The proliferation inhibitory rates of THP-1 cells were assayed by MTT. The apoptosis rates and the cell cycle distribution were detected by fl ow cytometry. The expressions of Wnt signaling pathway proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results LiCl could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of THP-1 cells. LiCl mainly arrested THP-1 cells in the G2/M phase in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Western blot results suggested that the expressions of t-GSK3β and cyclinD1 had no obvious change. The expressions of p-GSK3β and β-catenin were increased. The expression of c-myc protein was increased with short-time and low-concentration treatment, while decreased with long-time and high-concentration treatment. Conclusion LiCl could inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycle of THP-1 cells. In addition, it could activate Wnt signaling pathway, and infl uence the expressions of c-myc and cyclinD1 proteins.