Objective To explore the roles of [Ca 2+ ]i in the apoptosis of Jurkat cells induced by Tripterygium Hypoglaucum (Levl) Hutch alkaloids. Methods After Jurkat cells were stained with Indo 1 AM and PI, changes of [Ca 2+ ]i were assessed by flow cytometry at the single cell level. Results THH alkaloids could induce no changes of [Ca 2+ ] inside cytoplasm. Conclusion THH alkaloids induce the apoptosis of Jurkat cells via other pathways rather than via the [Ca 2+ ] pathway.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tripterygium Hypoglaucum (Levl) Hutch alkaloids on the nuclear DNA strand breaks and DNA fragmantation in Jurkat T lymphoma cells to understand the mechanisms of the apoptosis. Methods After Jurkat cells were induced by the alkaloids, DNA stand breaks were labeled by TUNEL assay and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by DNA content analysis. Flow cytometry was performed to determine these phenomena. Results THH alkaloids could effectively induce DNA stand breaks and DNA fragmentation. Conclusion There are great changes in nuclear DNA in the apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphoma cells induced by THH alkaloids.

Objective To study the effects of the cytotoxicity, cell cycle and time dependent apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphoma cells induced by Tripterygium Hypoglaucum (Levl) Hutch (THH) alkaloids so ad to explore the mechanisms of the apoptosis induced by the THH alkaloids. Methods Cell vitality and cell proliferation were measured by Typan blue staining. Cell cycle and the time dependent apoptosis were determined by DNA staining, TUNEL labeling and flow cytometry. Results THH alkaloids could effectively inhibit cell proliferation of Jurkat cells and induce the G 1 arrest and could induce apoptosis in G 2/S phase first and then G 1 phase. Conclusion THH alkaloids can inhibit DNA synthesis, cell proliferation and can also induce apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphoma cells in all phases.