Effect of methylmercury chloride on proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cell lines NB4 and K562

Objective To study the effect of methylmercury chloride(MMC) on proliferation and apoptosis in leukemia cell lines NB4 and K562.Methods NB4 and K562 were treated with 1.25,2.50,5.00,10.00 and 20.00 μmol·L-1 MMC and asenic troxide(ATO) for 0,6,12,24,48 and 72 h,the cell viability rate was detected by MTT assay;the apoptosis was observed with fluorescence microscope after stained by Hoechst 33258. Results The viability rates of NB4 and K562 cells treated with 10 μmol·L-1 MMC for 24 h were 22.0% and 70.0%;when treated with 10 μmol·L-1 ATO for 24 h the viability rates were 24.4 % and 52.0%;compared with control group,there was significant difference(P0.05).The significant apoptostic picture was obtained with fluorescence microscope.The two drugs had the similar effect when they were used to treat NB4 and K562 cells in the same dose and for the same time.Conclusion MMC can induce apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells and inhibit proliferation of leukemia cell lines NB4 and K562 significantly and the effect is in time-and dose-dependent manner.