Effect of arsenic trioxide on proliferation and apoptosis of U266 cells and its relationship with the expression variation of VEGF

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cell line U266 and its relationship with the expression variation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The viability and apoptosis of U266 cells were observed by methylthiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). The effect of As2O3 on the VEGF expression of U266 cells were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. We found that As2O3 could significantly inhibit the growth of U266 cells, and the concentration for 50% growth inhibition (IC50) was 2 μmol/L. After treatment with 2, 5, 10 μmol/L As2O3 for 36 hours, dose-dependent apoptosis of U266 cells was observed. After treatment with 2, 5, 10 μmol/L As2O3 for 72 hours, a dose-dependent reduction of VEGF in the supernatant of U266 cells culture was found. As far as single cells are concerned, nevertheless, the expression of VEGF mRNA did not vary. So we draw the conclusion that As2O3 could induce the apoptosis of U266 cells and inhibit their proliferation, decrease the tumor load, and lead to the reduction of VEGF in the culture supernatant, but not change the expression of VEGF in single U266 cells.