[Glutathione synthesis inhibitor enhances arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis].
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate the possible role of thiols (SH-groups) in arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced apoptosis.


METHODS
Leukemia (NB4, HL60, U937) and lymphoma (Jurkat and Namalwa) cell lines were treated with As2O3 together with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a selective inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase. The mitochondrial transmembrane potentials (delta psi m) and the percentage of cells in apoptosis were measured by means of flow cytometry.


RESULTS
One mmol/L BSO significantly enhanced As2O3-induced delta psi m collapse and apoptosis in NB4 cells. One mumol/L As2O3 did not induce the delta psi m collapse and apoptosis in Namalwa, HL60, U937 and Jurkat cells, while these effects were induced significantly by the co-treatment of 1 mumol/L As2O3 and 1 mmol/L BSO.


CONCLUSIONS
Thiols are important chemosensors of As2O3-induced delta psi m collapse and apoptosis.
Shen
Y
Y
Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025.
Chen
G
G
Cai
X
X
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D005978:Glutathione; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide