Microscopic Characterization and Annexin V Flowcytometry Analysis of Apoptosis in Myelomoncytic Leukemia Cell Line treated with Velogenic Viscerotropic Newcastle Disease Virus Strain Af 2240

Leukemia is a type of cancer caused by the unregulated proliferation of immature blood cells derived from mutated hematopoietic stem cells. The malignant cells arise from the standstill of normal blood cell maturation. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and variants of this virus which cause severe disease in birds, have oncolytic properties and are potential anticancer agents because they can kill tumor cells with limited toxicity to normal cells. In this study, the morphophic changes and apoptosis induction of the NDV strain AF2240 treated WEHI 3B leukemia cell line were examined using phase contrast, fluorescence, scanning and annexin V flow cytometry techniques. Light microscopy and electron microscopy showed that NDV strain AF 2240 significantly altered cell morphology and reduced cell viability. In addition, early apoptosis was observed 6 h after inoculation by fluorescence microscopy and annexin V flow cytometry methods. Our results suggest that NDV is able to induce the apoptotic pathway in the WEHI 3B leukemia cell line and may have potential therapeutic utility in the treatment of leukemia.