OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis-induction, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and mdr1 mRNA inhibition effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on multidrug-resistant cell line K562/ADM cells, and to determine the relationship between intracellular GSH content and arsenic effect.

METHODSK562/ADM cells were treated with arsenic (0.5, 2.0, 5.0 micromol/L) alone or combined with BSO (100 micromol/L). The cell proliferating capacity was assessed with MTT assay, and cell apoptosis by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Intracellular GSH contents were measured using a glutathione assay kit by spectrophotometry. P-gp expression was determined by flow cytometry, and mdr1 mRNA expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe GSH contents in K562/ADM cell was (81.13 +/- 3.91) mg/g protein. After the GSH contents were degraded by BSO, the K562/ADM cell proliferating capacity was obviously inhibited and the cells were induced apoptosis in 24 hours by the combination of clinic dose arsenic group (0.5, 2.0 micromol/L) and BSO (100 micromol/L). The cell apoptosis rates at 48 hours in arsenic alone group and combination group were (59.29 +/- 6.01)% and (65.06 +/- 8.29)%, and at 72 hours were (82.15 +/- 9.28)% and (92.72 +/- 9.41)% retrospectively. At 48 hours, the mdr1 mRNA inhibition effect of the combination group was obviously stronger than that of high dose arsenic alone group. At 72 hours, the P-gp inhibition effect of the combination group (clinic dose arsenic group, 0.5, 2.0 micromol/L) was obviously stronger than that of high dose arsenic alone group (5.0 micromol/L).

CONCLUSIONThe intracellular GSH contents are closely correlated with the arsenic effect. The combination of conventional dose arsenic and BSO significantly induces K562/ADM cell apoptosis and inhibits P-gp and mdr1 mRNA expression in the cells.