Effects of red orpiment on cell morphology and expression of PML mRNA and protein in NB4 and HL-60 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of red orpiment on cell morphology, expression of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA and its protein localization in NB4 and HL-60 cell lines.


METHODS
Cell morphology was assayed by Wright's staining and fluorescence staining, while PML mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. PML protein localization by evaluated by immunofluorescence staining.


RESULTS
The typical apoptosis was found in NB4 and HL-60 cells after treatment with red orpiment. The fusion protein was no longer observed in NB4 cells, PML protein was relocated, and then degraded. In HL-60 cells, PML protein underwent a similar progress. The expression of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA was not changed in the treated cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Red orpiment inhibits the proliferation of leukemia cells by inducing them to undergo apoptosis.
Zhong
Lu
L
Department of Leukemia Research, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai 200001, China.
Chen
Fangyuan
F
Han
Jieying
J
Shao
Nianxian
N
Ouyang
Renrong
R
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000071156:Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000071156:Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C070576:PML protein, human