Effect of rosiglitazone on proliferation of U937 cells and its mechanisms

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on human leukemic cell (U937) proliferation and its mechanisms.METHODS:After treated with rosiglitazone at different dosages,the cell cytotoxic effect was evaluated by MTT assay.The distribution of cell cycle and apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry (FCM).The expression of PPAR-γ was examined by RT-PCR.RESULTS:Rosiglitazone inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells when the concentration was above 80 μmol/L (P0.05);the apoptosis achieved above 50%.Rosiglitazone arrested the cell cycle in G1 phase (P0.05);PPAR-γ expressed in U937 cells.The expressions of PPAR-γ tested by RT-PCR had no differences among the different groups.CONCLUSIONS:Rosiglitazone has the capabilities of inhibiting proliferation especially when the drug concentration is above 80 μmol/L,and arresting U937 cells at G1 phase of the cell cycle,but the expressions of PPAR-γ tested by RT-PCR have no differences among the different groups.So there are maybe other pathways correlated with the effects,not the activation of PPAR-γ.