Ascorbic acid enhances the apoptosis of U937 cells induced by arsenic trioxide in combination with DMNQ and its mechanism.
- Author:
Fei GAO
1
;
Jing YI
;
Guiying SHI
;
Hui LI
;
Xuegeng SHI
;
Zhiwei WANG
;
Xueming TANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Apoptosis; drug effects; Arsenicals; pharmacology; Ascorbic Acid; pharmacology; Drug Synergism; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Naphthoquinones; pharmacology; Oxides; pharmacology; U937 Cells
- From: Chinese Journal of Hematology 2002;23(1):9-11
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate whether ascorbic acid could enhance the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) combined with 2, 3-dimethoxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ) in inducing the apoptosis of leukemia cell line U937 and its possible mechanism.
METHODSFlow cytometry and electron microscopy were applied to detect apoptosis of U937 cells after treatment with various combinations of As(2)O(3), DMNQ and ascorbic acid for 24 hours.
RESULTSAs(2)O(3) and DMNQ induced-apoptosis of U937 cells was enhanced (35.24%-->61.20%) upon cotreatment with ascorbic acid. Catalase could reverse this effect of DMNQ. Ascorbic acid had no effect on DMNQ-induced apoptosis of U937 cells.
CONCLUSIONAscorbic acid enhanced the apoptosis of U937 cells via reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway in the presence of As(2)O(3).
