Study on apoptosis of human liver cancer cell(BEL-7402)induced by arsenic trioxide in vitro

Objective To explore the effect of arsenic trioxied(AS_2O_3)in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of liver cancer cell BEL-7402.Methods The cytotoxicity of arsenic trioxide on BEL-7402 was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay.Morphologic changes were studied by AO/EB fluoroscopy,apoptosis and cell cycle changes of BEL-7402 induced by arsenic trioxide was investigated by single cell gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry.Results Arsenic trioxde could inhibit significantly the growth of BEL-7402,morphological feature of apoptosis happen in experimental groups(10?μg/ml and 20?μg/ml);sub-apop peak coccurred in flow cytometry of the groups(10?μg/ml and 20?μg/ml arsenic trioxide).Comet phenomenon showed in single cell gel electrophoresis,and it could cause the cell cycle to change,the cells were stayed in S phase mainly.Conclusion Arsenic trioxide can restrain the proliferation of BEL-7402 cell strongly;its mechanism is to induce apoptosis of the cell mostly.