MDM2 inhibition-mediated autophagy contributes to the pro-apoptotic effect of berberine in p53-null leukemic cells.

MDM2 inhibits autophagy and apoptosis in leukemic cells in a p53-independent manner. BBR induces autophagy in p53-null leukemic cells through downregulating MDM2 expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which may contribute to the anti-cancer effect of BBR in leukemia.