Study On The Apoptosis Of Raji Cell Line Induced By Arsenic Trioxide And Its Relation With The Cell Cycle Arrest And The Expression Of Survivin Gene

Objective: To investigate the apoptosis inducted by arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) in Raji cells and its possible mechanisms.Methods: After Raji cells were treated with As₂O₃ at different concentrations, cell proliferation was tested by MTT assay. Apoptosis was observed with electron microscope and DNA electrophoresis. The distribution of cell cycles and cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of survivin gene was determined by real-time fluorescene quantitative PCR.Results: AS2_O3 (1-8μM) inhibited Raji cells growth effectively in a dose-and time-dependent manner. AS₂O₃ at 2-8μM could induce the cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, AS₂O₃(1μM) inhibited Raji cells proliferation only by cell cycle arrest, without any symptom of cell apoptosis. At the same time, the expression of survivin gene was down-regulated after the treatment.Conclusion: Substantial proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Raji cells could be induced by ASO₂O₃-Cell cycle arrest might be a reason that can cause apoptosis. AS₂O₃ can markedly down-regulate the expression of survivin gene in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The down-regulated survivin gene might be leading to the cell apoptosis by AS₂O₃．...