Cell cycle arrest induced by arsenic trioxide in human chronic myeloid leukemic cell (K562)

Objective:To investigate the effects of As2O3 on cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest in K562 cell line. Method:The K562 cells were cultured in RPMI1640 with different concentration of As2O, and harvested in different cultured time. The cell viability, cell cycle and cyclins expression were examined by MTT cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry. Result:① Under the concentration of 2. 0-10. 0 μmol/L of As2O3 , K562 cells exhibited obvious proliferation inhibition and cell cycle arrest during 12-24 hours.②The K562 cells cultured with 2. 0-10. 0μmol/L of As2O3 for 12-24 hours showed no much apoptosis. ③As2O3 could induce K562 cells arrested significantly at G2/M phase, together with changes of a series of cyclins. Conclusion: As2O3 could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells not through an induced apoptotic way but through the induced G2/M arrest.