title: Study on the relationship between NB4 cell apoptosis induced by tanshinone IIA and the cell mitochondrial transmembrane potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship between NB4 cell apoptosis induced by tanshinone IIA (TanIIA) and the cell mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim).
  
  
  METHODS
  NB4 cells were treated with TanIIA, As(2)O(3), TanIIA plus 1.0 micro g/ml CsA and As(2)O(3) plus 1.0 micro g/ml CsA, respectively. Morphological changes were observed under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The percentages of sub-G(1) cells and DeltaPsim of cells doublely stained with PI and Rh123 were assayed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of sub-G(1) cells after treatment with 1.0 micro g/ml and 2.0 micro g/ml TanIIA had no significant difference but was higher than that of 0.5 micro g/ml. After treatment with TanIIA, NB4 cells appeared the classical apoptotic morphology. The percentages of sub-G(1) cells were increased, while the DeltaPsim reduced (P < 0.01) and there was a linear correlation between them. The increment of sub-G(1) cell percentages and decrement of DeltaPsim induced by TanIIA were partly inhibited by CsA (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TanIIA can induce NB4 cells apoptosis through opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and reducing DeltaPSgr;m, and this effect could be inhibited by CsA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Huaxi Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Wentong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chengqi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yongqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C021751:tanshinone; D004247:DNA