Objective: To study the apoptosis and chemosensitive effect of As(2)O(3) on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.
Methods: MTT colorimetric assay, immunohistochemical method, flow cytometry and RT-PCR were applied to observe the different effects induced by As(2)O(3) with different concentrations on A549 cells.
Results: 1, 2 micro mol/L As(2)O(3) increased Fas expression and inhibited the expression of bcl-2, MRP and LRP; G(1) arrest was observed and the cells were more sensitive to cisplatin. A549 cells in the presence of 5 micro mol/L As(2)O(3) showed growth inhibition and up-regulation of bcl-2, MRP and LRP expressions; but their chemosensitivity to cisplatin did not change.
Conclusion: As(2)O(3) in low concentrations can increase the chemosensitivity of A549 cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis genes, anti-apoptosis genes and drug-resistant genes and affecting the cell cycle progress.