The Effect of Decitabine Combined with Arsenic Trioxide on DAPK Gene and HL-60 Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Purpose: Our study was to detect the effect of Decitabine (DAC) combined with arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) on DAPK gene and HL-60 cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods: DAC and AS2O3 monotherapy, combination treatment and DAC pretreatment were used in this study after incubating with HL-60 cell for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h. CCK8 was used to detect the cell proliferation of HL-60 cell. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis. Then, we used RT-PCR to obtain the gene expression level of DAPK. Results: HL-60 cells were treated with different concentrations of DAC (20 μmol/L, 40 μmol/L, 80 μmol/L), AS2O3 (1 μmol/L, 2.5 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L) monotherapy for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h; along with the extension of the drug concentration and time, proliferation inhibition rate had gradually increased. Monotherapy of DAC, AS2O3 could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells, and was time- and dose-dependent. DAC (80 μmol/L) was firstly used for pretreatment, and then, different concentrations of AS2O3 (1 μmol/L, 2.5 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L) were used for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h. It was found that cell proliferation inhibition rate and apoptosis rate had increased significantly. When the two drugs were used together, the increasing proliferation inhibition rate, apoptosis rate and DAPK had become more obvious. Conclusion: DAC and AS2O3 had a synergetic effect for the HL-60 cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and expression of DAPK.