To investigate the effect of venetoclax (Vene) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by regulating the microRNA-410-3p (miR-410-3p)/high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) axis.

THP1 cells were randomly divided into control group (normal culture), experimental group (100 nmol·L^-1 Vene treatment), inh-NC group (experimental group + transfection of inh-miR-410-3p negative control), inh-miR-410-3p group (experimental group + transfection of inh-miR-410-3p), inh-NC combined with sh-NC group (inh-NC group + transfection of sh-HMGB1 negative control), inh-miR-410-3p combined with sh-NC group (inh-miR-410-3p group + transfection of sh-HMGB1 negative control), sh-HMGB1 group (inh-miR-410-3p group + transfection of sh-HMGB1). The relative expression levels of miR-410-3p and HMGB1 mRNA were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the positive expression of HMGB1; 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) was used to detect cell proliferation; Western blot was used to detect the relative expression levels of B lymphocytoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax).

The relative expression levels of miR-410-3p in the control group, experimental group, inh-NC group, inh-miR-410-3p group, inh-NC combined with sh-NC group, inh-miR-410-3p combined with sh-NC group and sh-HMGB1 group were 1.00±0.15, 3.76±0.31, 3.64±0.33, 1.69±0.20, 1.00±0.17, 0.42±0.06, 0.89±0.07, respectively; the relative expression levels of HMGB1 mRNA were 1.00±0.13, 0.62±0.07, 0.65±0.06, 0.93±0.11, 1.00±0.15, 1.93±0.21, 1.14±0.16, respectively. The relative fluorescence levels of HMGB1 in the control group, experimental group, inh-NC group and inh-miR-410-3p group were 1.00±0.16, 0.55±0.07, 0.58±0.08, 0.82±0.14, respectively. The cell proliferation rates of inh-NC combined with sh-NC group, inh-miR-410-3p combined with sh-NC group and sh-HMGB1 group were (11.46±1.95)%, (37.82±5.31)%, (16.14±3.05)%, respectively; the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were 1.00±0.14, 4.17±0.39, 1.33±0.18, respectively; the relative expression levels of Bax protein were 1.00±0.16, 0.32±0.08, 0.91±0.13, respectively. The differences of above indexes were statistically significant between control group and the experimental group, between inh-NC group and the inh-miR-410-3p group, between inh-NC combined with sh-NC group and inh-miR-410-3p combined with sh-NC group, between inh-miR-410-3p combined with sh-NC group and the the sh-HMGB1 group (all P<0.001).

Vene can inhibit the proliferation of AML cells and induce apoptosis of AML cells by regulating the miR-410-3p/HMGB1 axis.