Moringa oleifera leaves protein suppresses T-lymphoblastic leukemogenesis via MAPK/AKT signaling modulation of apoptotic activation and autophagic flux regulation

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is one of the most common hematologic malignancies in children worldwide. Despite advances in chemotherapy in recent years, more than 50% of adult T-ALL patients still experience treatment resistance and relapse/refractory disease. <i>Moringa oleifera</i>, a new food resource in China, has high nutritional value and various pharmacological activities. <i>Moringa oleifera</i> protein is one of the main active ingredients in <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves, and some studies have shown that <i>Moringa oleifera</i> protein has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and other bioactivities; however, the anti-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) activity of the <i>Moringa oleifera</i> protein and its mechanism of action are still unclear. In this study, we used <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves protein as the experimental material and used the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Western blot techniques to study the effects of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves protein on Jurkat cell growth, apoptosis, and the cell cycle <i>in vitro</i> and the underlying molecular mechanism. <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves protein inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation; induced apoptosis and cycle arrest; increased autophagy; and inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation by regulating the MAPK/AKT pathway. The results of this study provide new ideas and a theoretical basis for the development of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves protein for the prevention and treatment of leukemia.