Preliminary study, by flow cytometric parameters and apoptotic markers, of mitochondrial disfunction in leukemia cells

Authors: Annamaria PALLAG¹, Ladislau RITLI¹, Aurel ARDELEAN², Ildiko SZABO¹, Simona BUNGĂU¹

Affiliation: ¹ Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University, Oradea, ² ”Vasile Goldiş” Western University, Arad

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ABSTRACT. The main purpose of the antineoplastic treatment is to induce apoptosis in the malignant cells. Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a process in which the deliberate degradation of the cell from the inside takes place, with the active selection of some genes and the failure of others, with the participation of the mitochondria for the propagation of the apoptotic signal, with changes in the phospholipid composition of the cell membrane, with the perturbation and alteration of the cell metabolism. The phases of apoptosis can be detected by flow cytometry. This way the changes in the phospholipid composition of the cell membrane can be determined, when phosphatidylserine (PS), usually on the inner side of the cell membrane, it is displayed on the surface. The aim of the present study is a preliminary analysis of the involvement of the mitochondria, as a major source of ROS in the cell, in the apoptotic process induced by the antineoplastic medication.

Keywords: apoptosis, leukemia, flow cytometer