Investigation of the pathway of apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide in cancer cells / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM To investigate the possible role of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (??m) and caspase 3 in arsenic trioxide(As 2O 3)-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. METHOD Namalwa, SGC7901 and Bcap37 cell lines were used as in vitro models. Apoptosis was confirmed by sub-G 1 cells content as well as phosphatidylserine(PS) externalization. The ??m was detected on flow cytometry through double staining of Rhodamine 123(Rh123) and popidium iodide(PI). In addition, the effect of DEVD-CHO, a selective inhibitor of Caspase 3, on As 2O 3-induced apoptosis was studied. RESULT The As 2O 3-induced apoptosis closely associated with the externalization of the ??m and the activation of Caspase 3. As 2O 3 induced cells necrosis when Caspase 3 was inhibited. CONCLUSION As 2O 3 may selectively activates Caspase 3 after it induces externalization of ??m, which causes cancer cells apoptosis.