[The effect of arsenic sulfide combined with IFN-alpha on K562 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study if the effect of arsenic sulfide combined with IFN-alpha can be increased on K562 cells.


METHODS
Telomerase activity was determined by PCR-ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptosis. The final concentration of IFN-alpha and arsenic sulfide was 10,000 U/mL and 0.6 mg/L.


RESULTS
The rates of apoptosis was 37.8% and 37% in K562 cells treated with IFN-alpha or arsenic sulfide alone for 8 days; The rates of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity was 59.9% and 81.2% in K562 cells treated with IFN-alpha and arsenic sulfide simultaneously for 8 days, or 60.37% and 78.8% in K562 cells was treated with arsenic sulfide for 5 days after affected by IFN-alpha for 3 days. 71.3% telomerase activity was inhibited in K562 cells by arsenic sulfide alone for 8 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination of arsenic sulfide and IFN-alpha can increase the apoptosis and inhibit the telomerase activity of K562 cells obviously comparing with the two drugs used alone. IFN-alpha maybe promote arsenic sulfide inducing apoptosis of K562 cells.
Li
Jing
J
Department of Hematology, First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. anlj1676@126.com
Liu
Shan-Xi
SX
Zhang
Mei
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020014:K562 Cells; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D001152:Arsenicals; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013440:Sulfides; C045816:arsenic trisulfide; D019098:Telomerase