[Ascorbic acid enhances the apoptosis of U937 cells induced by arsenic trioxide in combination with DMNQ and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To 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.


METHODS
Flow 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.


RESULTS
As(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.


CONCLUSIONS
Ascorbic acid enhanced the apoptosis of U937 cells via reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway in the presence of As(2)O(3).
Gao
Fei
F
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China.
Yi
Jing
J
Shi
Guiying
G
Li
Hui
H
Shi
Xuegeng
X
Wang
Zhiwei
Z
Tang
Xueming
X
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020298:U937 Cells
D001152:Arsenicals; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010087:Oxides; C063002:2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide