Effect of arsenic trioxide on proliferation in human leukemia cell lines UF-1 and K562/D

Objective: To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide(As_2O_3) on cell cycle and apoptosis of drug resistant UF-1 and K562/D cell lines of human leukemia.Methods:Cell viability and cell growth rate were determined by using Typan blue exclusion. Cell morphology was observed by using light microscope with Wright-Giemsa stain. Cell cycle was analyzed with flowcytometry.Results:The As_2O_3 can inhibit the proliferation of UF-1 and K562/D cell lines.Compared with sensitive cell lines of NB4 and K562,the difference was not significant. UF-1 cells(48.5%) underwent apoptosis 48 hours after treatment with As_2O_3(2 μmol/L) and the cells in sub-Giphase significantly increased. K562/S cells(40.6%) entered dividing phase after treatment with As_2O_3 (4 μmol/L) and the cells in G_2/M phase increased markedly.Conclusion:In drug resistant UF-1 and K562/S cells and sensitive NB4 and K562 cells,the sensitivity to As_2O_3 was similar. The As_2O_3 can induce apoptosis in UF-1 cells and block K562/D cells in G_2/M phase.