Imatinib mesylate induces apoptosis of the IL-2–independent p210⁺ NK92 cells.

Parental, eGFP⁺, and p210-eGFP⁺(p210⁺) NK92 cells (1 × 10⁵cells/mL) were incubated with 1 and 10 μM imatinib mesylate for 96 hours, and then apoptosis was analyzed using the annexin-V binding assay. Data shown are the increase in apoptosis over the baseline (without imatinib mesylate) for each condition. p210⁺ NK92 cells without IL-2 demonstrate significantly increased apoptosis from imatinib mesylate compared with control eGFP⁺ NK92 cells (P < .01), and adding IL-2 reverses this effect (P = NS). Each bar represents the mean ± SEM of 3 experiments for each condition.