Synergy Between As₂O₃ And ATRA In Human K562 Cell

Purpose: To study whether synergy between As₂O₃ and ATRA in Human K562cell, to further evaluate the extent of synergy and explore the synergy mechanism.Method: K562 cell proliferation was detected by MTT colorimetry, Synergy wasevaluated using fixed-concentration method, and data were analyzed by thecombination index. Cell cycle and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.Bcl-2 , Bcl-XL, P53 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression were observed bysemi-quantitative RT-PCR.Result: As₂O₃ or ATRA could significantly inhibit K562 cell proliferation andthere were a significant difference, compared to control groups (p<0.05). Theinhibitory rates of cell proliferation depended on drug concentration and time. Theresult indicate that the synergic effect between the two drugs was increased withincreasing of ATRA concentration, however, the effect was decreased withincreasing of As₂O₃ concentration. Our results had shown that there were thesynergic effect of inducing apoptosis between As₂O₃ and ATRA in Human K562cell.Conclusion: There are synergic effect between As₂O₃ and ATRA in inhibitingproliferation of K562 cell, which is correlate to synergic effect of inducingapoptosis.