Effect of arsenic trioxide on the proliferation and the expression of Ki-67 and Survivin in K562 cells

Objective:To explore the effect of As 2O 3 on the growth of K562 cells and the possible mechanism of K562 cells resistant to As 2O 3.Method:After K562 cells treated with As 2O 3 of different concentrations, the cell growth rate was tested by MTT assay, viable cells were determinated by trypan blue exclusion test, and the apoptosis and the expression of Ki-67 and Survivin antigen were detected by flow cytometry.Result:2 μmol/L As 2O 3 could inhibit the growth of K562 cells effectively, but the significant decrease of viable cells and Ki-67, a proliferation-associated antigen, and the apoptosis were not observed until K562 cells were treated with As 2O 3 at 5μmol/L for 48 h, while the expression of Survivin was up-regulated after the treatment.Conclusion:As 2O 3 could inhibit the growth of K562 cells effectively, but it was weaker to inhibit the cell proliferation ability and induce apoptosis; the up-regulated Survivin in K562 cells might be one of the possible mechanisms of their resistance to As 2O 3 inducing cell apoptosis.