The role of CasNa in the selective elimination of leukemic cells

Abstract

Current antileukemic therapies eliminate both tumoral and normal cells compromising thus the survival of the patient. Sodium caseinate (CasNa) inhibits the proliferation of mouse leukemic cell lines, but it enhances the production of normal hematopoietic cells in independent cultures. However, it is unknown whether cocultures (CC) keep their selective toxic effect. In this work we found that cell proliferation is induced in WEHI-3 leukemic cells cocultured with normal bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) in the presence of CasNa whereas viability and apoptosis induction are reduced. We also found that WEHI-3 reduced cell proliferation with apoptosis induction, but it increased cell proliferation in absence of apoptosis in MNC. These data suggest that CasNa promote the elimination of leukemic cells but not that of normal ones.