[Realgar nano-particles induce apoptosis and necrosis in leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the growth-inhibitory, apoptosis- and necrosis-inducing effects of realgar nano-particles (RNP) in human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 and acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60, and to find out the chemical species with efficacy.


METHODS
A "solvent-relay" strategy was used for the preparation of RNP suspension. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were characterized with Annexin V-PI double staining in association with flow cytometry and with morphological examination with Hoechst 33258 staining. Parallel experiments with arsenous acid (H3AsO3), the dominant form of arsenic trioxide in the solution, were conducted for comparison.


RESULTS
The mean diameter of RNP was 159.0 nm. RNP showed growth-inhibitory effect on both cell lines. The double staining test indicated that RNP induced both apoptosis and necrosis, and this was further confirmed by morphological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
RNP induced both apoptosis and necrosis in leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60. Thioarsenite species with both As-O and As-S bonds may be the active intermediates in the RNP.
Ning
Ning
N
Department of Chemical Biology, Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing 100083, China.
Peng
Zuo-fu
ZF
Yuan
Lan
L
Gou
Bao-di
BD
Zhang
Tian-lan
TL
Wang
Kui
K
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009336:Necrosis; D010316:Particle Size; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D008419:Materia Medica; D013440:Sulfides; C058317:arsenic disulfide