[Studies on programmed cell death induced by amsacrine and expression of bcl-2 in leukemia cell lines].
OBJECTIVE
To study programmed cell death (PCD) in two human acute myelocytic leukemia cell lines in different differentiated phases, NB4(AML3) and HL-60(AML2).


METHODS
PCD cells were detected microscopically, DNA electrophoretically and flow cytometrically. Expression of bcl-2 gene was examined by immunohistochemistry staining.


RESULTS
Exposed to 1-20 micrograms/ml m-AMSA for 6-12 h, morphological changes in NB4 cells were more evident than in HL-60 cells. Internucleosomal fragmentation(DNA ladders) was more marked in NB4 than in HL-60 cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that the number of PCD cells in NB4 cells was more than that in HL-60 cells. HL-60 cells had significantly higher mean bcl-2 level than NB4 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The high bcl-2 level in HL-60 cells may be related to their comparatively low sensitivity to m-AMSA-induced PCD.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing.
Y
Y
Wan
D
D
Wu
D000677:Amsacrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000677:Amsacrine