Arsenic Trioxide Induced Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Cells and Its Influence on Expression of Survivin and Caspase-3 Proteins

BACKGROUND AND AIM:To investigate the apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells induced by different concentrations of As2O3 and to study its influence on the activities of Survivin and Caspase-3 proteins.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The rate of apoptosis in human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by flow cytometry;the activities of Survivin and Caspase-3 proteins were examined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot in untreated and As2O3-treated MDA-MB-231 cells.RESULTS:The percentages of the apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells were(28.89±2.47)%,(46.73±3.82)% and(56.44±4.16)%,in cells treated for 24 hours with 10.0,20.0,40.0 μmol/L As2O3 respectively.As2O3 inhibited the expression of Survivin protein and promoted the expression of Caspase-3 protein.There were obvious dose-effect correlations between As2O3 and its functions.CONCLUSION:The results suggested that As2O3 could induce apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells via Survivin protein inhibition and Caspase-3 protein promotion.