The synergistic effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and cytarabine on mitochondria of stem-like cells derived from KG1-a

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often relapses post-chemotherapy due to leukemia stem cells (LSCs), which rely on mitochondria for energy, ROS regulation, and apoptosis. Targeting mitochondrial pathways may overcome LSC resistance. This study evaluated Cytarabine (Ara-C), 2-Deoxy-d-Glucose (2-DG), and their combination on AML-derived KG1-a cells using MTT assays, showing reduced viability with combined treatment. The Magnetic sorting isolated CD34+ (stem-like) and CD34- cells. Flow cytometry revealed increased ROS and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in KG1-a and CD34+ cells with 2-DG and Ara-C, suggesting a promising strategy to target resistant LSCs in AML therapy.