低剂量地西他滨联合伊马替尼对K562细胞的增殖抑制作用

目的 研究低剂量地西他滨(DAC)联合伊马替尼(IM)对K562细胞株的增殖抑制作用及对bcr-abl表达的影响.方法 单药及两药联合后,通过四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法观察药物对K562细胞株的增殖抑制作用,流式细胞术检测药物对K562细胞株早期凋亡率及细胞周期,巢式反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)半定量检测药物对K562细胞株bcr-abl mRNA表达.结果 DAC与IM单药对K562细胞的抑制作用呈浓度时间依赖性.两药联合用药抑制作用较单药组明显(F=43.947、165.580、321.193、296.101,均P<0.05),24、48、72 h各浓度组与对照组比较差异均有统计学意义(F=202.759、168.457、417.538,均P<0.05).DAC及IM单药作用药物对K562细胞株均使G,期细胞明显增多,IM0.2μmol/L作用于K562细胞株48 h可见6.7%早期凋亡细胞,IM 0.2 μmol/L联合DAC 4μmol/L早期凋亡细胞增加至8.4%.bcr-abl mRNA表达水平降低,DAC 4 μmol/L作用48 h后可降低K562细胞中bcr-abl mRNA表达(约14%),IM 0.2 μmol/L降低约40%,联合用药表达量明显降低(约60%).联合用药组与单药组比较差异有统计学意义(F=71.981,P<0.05).结论 DAC对K562细胞的增殖抑制作用与细胞周期阻滞、诱导凋亡及降低bcr-abl mRNA表达有关,两药联合可显著抑制K562细胞增殖.     

辛伐他汀联合阿糖胞苷对K562细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

目的 探讨辛伐他汀(SV)联合阿糖胞苷(Ara-C)对K562细胞增殖与凋亡的影响.方法 不同浓度SV和Ara-C单用或者联合处理K562细胞,对照组为K562细胞.药物作用24、48、72 h后收集细胞,分别观察各组细胞形态,采用MTT法检测不同组别细胞的生长抑制率,采用流式细胞术检测细胞早期凋亡率、细胞坏死比例.结果 SV联合Ara-C组与单药组相比细胞形态明显有核固缩现象,且可见凋亡小体形成,并且随着处理时间的增加,抑制率也增大.其中15 μmol/L SV联合20 μmol/LAra-C的细胞抑制作用最为显著,72 h细胞抑制率为(72±1)%,明显高于15 μmol/L SV组的(45±2)%和20μmol/LAra-C组的(44±0)%(P＜0.01),表现为协同抑制作用(24、48 h金氏Q值为1.24和1.19).流式细胞术检测发现20、15和10μmol/LSV组K562细胞早期凋亡率AnnexinV明显高于对照K562细胞(P＜0.01),而且随着时间延长和剂量的增大早期凋亡率也增加(P＜0.05).20和15 μmol/LSV组早期凋亡率均高于10 μmol/LSV组,而前两者之间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).晚期凋亡细胞率(PI)各组中差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 SV体外抑制K562细胞增殖及诱导细胞凋亡,SV与Ara-C具有协同作用,增加了K562细胞对化疗药物的敏感性.15 μmol/L可能为SV体外最佳作用浓度.     

白藜芦醇诱导白血病Molt-4细胞凋亡及对WAVE1基因表达的影响

目的 探讨白藜芦醇诱导人类急性淋巴细胞白血病Molt-4细胞凋亡的作用机制.方法 噻唑蓝比色法(MTF)测定细胞生长抑制率;流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布及凋亡率;半定量反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法检测WAVE1基因的表达.结果 MTT结果显示:12.5、25.0、50.0、100.0、200.0 μmol/L的白藜芦醇作用于Moh-4细胞24、48、72 h后,细胞的最大抑制率分别达到29.32%、36.11%、53.92%、62.50%、74.98%,并呈时间-剂量依赖性(F=33.614,P<0.05);流式细胞术检测结果显示:与对照组相比,50.0、100.0 μmol/L白藜芦醇作用于Molt-4细胞48 h后,S期细胞比例由42.2%分别上升为68.6%和78.1%,细胞发生了S期阻滞(F=19.453,P<0.01);PCR结果显示:50.0、100.0 μmol/L的白藜芦醇处理Molt-4细胞48 h后,WAVE1/GAPDH比值分别为0.356±0.03、0.382±0.05,与对照组(0.586±0.06)比较,差异有统计学意义(F=8.950,P<0.01).结论 白藜芦醇可诱导Moh-4细胞发生凋亡,其作用机制可能与下调WAVE1基因表达有关.     

葛根总黄酮诱导白血病细胞株凋亡及其分子机制的研究

目的 探讨葛根总黄酮(PR)对慢性粒细胞白血病(CML)细胞株K562和急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)细胞株NB4细胞增殖及凋亡的影响.方法 采用MTT法检测PR对K562细胞、NB4细胞的增殖抑制率;光学显微镜及荧光显微镜观察细胞形态改变;Hoechest33258荧光染色AnnexinV/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡率;DNA PI染色法分析细胞周期及亚二倍体峰.Western blot分别检测NB4细胞JNK、PARP、bcl-2、Caspase3,K562细胞bcr-abl、p53、bcl-2、Fas/FasL蛋白表达的变化.结果 12.5～200 μg/ml PR均能抑制K562、NB4细胞增殖.光学显微镜及荧光显微镜下观察到核固缩、凋亡小体等典型的细胞凋亡改变;Annexin V+/PI-细胞呈时间-剂量依赖性增加;DNA PI染色法发现细胞亚二倍体比例增加,G1期比例下降、S期比例增加.PR呈时间-剂量依赖性抑制K562细胞、NB4细胞增殖,诱导细胞凋亡.不同浓度PR干预后K562细胞bcr-abl蛋白水平呈浓度依赖性下调(F=18.74,P<0.05),而bcl-2则无明显变化;p53表达呈浓度依赖性上调;Fas/FasL表达无明显变化.NB4细胞JNK、PARP及Caspase 3蛋白表达与PR浓度呈正相关,与凋亡抑制蛋白bcl-2则呈负相关(F=42.32,P<0.05).结论 PR能有效抑制K562、NB4细胞增殖,阻滞细胞周期进程,诱导细胞凋亡,但分子机制不同.提示一定浓度PR具有较广谱的抗白血病效应.     

氯化铈对K562肿瘤细胞凋亡影响的实验研究

为了探讨氯化铈对肿瘤细胞凋亡的影响,本实验以K562细胞为研究对象,采用荧光显微镜定性检测细胞凋亡、流式细胞术定量测定细胞凋亡率.实验得出,与对照组相比,3mg/L氯化铈作用24h和500 mg/L氯化铈作用48h可以显著诱导细胞凋亡,30mg/L,150mg/L和250mg/L作用24h细胞凋亡率明显减少,同时氯化铈对K562细胞凋亡的影响随着作用时间的延长作用逐渐消失,对于同一时间来讲,氯化铈剂量和细胞凋亡之间的剂量-效应关系不明显.     

姜黄素联合人类细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞对卵巢癌细胞增殖的抑制作用及其机制

目的:观察姜黄素(Cur)联合人类细胞因子诱导的杀伤(CIK)细胞在体外对人卵巢癌浆液性囊腺癌细胞SKOV-3的增殖抑制作用,探讨其协同抗肿瘤作用及其可能机制.方法:诱导脐血CIK细胞,将SKOV-3细胞随机分为Cur组、CIK细胞组和Cur联合CIK细胞组,MTT法测定各组细胞的增殖抑制率,RT-PCR检测各组细胞Fas相关死亡结构蛋白Fas、Fas相关死亡结构蛋白(FADD)和Caspase-3 mRNA的表达.结果:与Cur组和CIK细胞组比较,Cur联合CIK细胞组SKOV-3细胞增殖抑制率增大,并且随时间的延长或剂量的增加,增殖抑制率亦增加,在效靶比为12.5∶1,20 μmol·L-1 Cur作用48 h时,SKOV-3细胞增殖抑制率达到76.2%;Cur联合CIK细胞组与Cur组和CIK细胞组比较,SKOV-3细胞Fas及Caspase-3的mRNA表达水平增加(P<0.05),Cur组、CIK细胞组和Cur联合CIK细胞组SKOV-3细胞FADD-mRNA表达无明显变化.结论:CIK细胞与Cur合用具有协同抗肿瘤作用,其效应可能与促进SKOV-3细胞Fas及Caspase-3的mRNA表达有关.     

K562细胞硫氧还蛋白还原酶活力测定及其抑制剂体外抗白血病的初步研究

目的 探讨慢性粒细胞白血病(CML)细胞株K562中硫氧还蛋白还原酶(TrxR)的活力及其新型抑制剂乙烷硒啉(BBSKE)体外抗白血病作用.方法 应用胰岛素还原法检测K562细胞株及健康人骨髓单个核细胞中TrxR的活力.运用CCK-8法测定BBSKE对K562细胞的增殖抑制率.应用激光共聚焦显微镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳以及Annexin V-FITC/PI双标记流式细胞术观察BBSKE的抗白血病作用.结果 K562细胞中TrxR的活性明显高于健康人骨髓单个核细胞,10 μmol/L BBSKE与K562细胞作用24 h,激光共聚焦显微镜可见典型的细胞凋亡表现,琼脂糖凝胶电泳后可见典型的DNA"梯"条带出现,流式细胞术检测凋亡率为(10.28±2.74)%;10 μmol/LBBSKE对CML患者原代细胞有诱导凋亡的作用,凋亡率为(5.70±0.48)%.结论 慢性粒细胞白血病细胞株K562中TrxR活力高于健康人骨髓单个核细胞,BBSKE有抑制TrxR活力、抑制K562细胞增殖和诱导凋亡的作用,是治疗CML潜在的有效药物.     

Taurolidine联合X射线对小鼠恶性黑色素瘤细胞周期进程的影响

目的:观察taurolidine联合X射线照射对小鼠恶性黑色素瘤(B16-4A5和B16-F10)细胞周期进程的影响,探讨其诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的发生机制.方法:选择B16-4A5和B16-F10细胞系按给药浓度随机分为4组,taurolidine剂量分别为0、25、50和100 μmol·L-1,同时进行1、2和4 Gy X射线照射,采用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率和细胞周期,Western blotting分析cyclin B、cdc2和caspase-3的表达.结果:与25 μmol·L-1 taurolidine组比较,50和100 μmol·L-1 taurolidine组诱导B16-4A5和B16-F10细胞发生G0/G1期阻滞,细胞数分别升高54.9%、73.7%和36.8%、55.5%(P＜0.05); 50 μmol·L-1 taurolidine联合2和4 Gy X射线照射组,细胞G2/M期阻滞消除,细胞数分别降低52.1%、44.2%和59.3%、52.7%(P＜0.05).与对照组、单纯taurolidine组及单纯照射组比较,联合4 Gy X射线照射组cyclin B和cdc2的表达降低,caspase-3的表达升高(P＜0.05).结论:taurolidine联合X射线照射可去除G2/M期阻滞,可选择地抑制肿瘤细胞cyclin B和cdc2的表达、增强caspase-3的表达,共同诱导细胞凋亡.     

环巴胺诱导大肠癌Caco-2细胞凋亡效应和线粒体蛋白质组学研究

目的:探讨环巴胺对大肠癌Caco-2细胞的促凋亡效应,在线粒体蛋白水平阐明其作用机制.方法:取对数生长期大肠癌Caco-2细胞分为环巴胺处理组及阴性对照组,以5、10、20和40 μmol·L-1环巴胺处理Caco-2细胞,分别应用MTS法及流式细胞术测定Caco-2细胞生长抑制率及凋亡率,采用nano LC-ESI-MS方法检测环巴胺处理组与阴性对照组细胞线粒体蛋白质组学差异.结果:环巴胺处理组Caco-2细胞分别经10、20和40 μmol·L-1环巴胺作用24、48和72 h后,生长抑制率(分别为23.1%±1.8%,46.2±0.9%,53.4±2.3%;45.1%±2.8%,73.0%±2.5%,81.2%±1.6%;59.7±2.3%,87.5±1.4%,91±1.06%)明显高于阴性对照组(1.8%±0.2%,2.5%±0.1%,3.7%±0.3%)(P<0.01);经5、10、20和40 μmol·L-1环巴胺作用于Caco-2细胞48 h后,细胞凋亡率分别为24.1%±1.3%、31.7%±1.6%、50.5%±2.3%和64.0%±1.9%,明显高于阴性对照组(14.4%±0.7%)(P<0.01).蛋白质组学差异分析,环巴胺作用后,Caco-2细胞线粒体共有32种蛋白表达下调,25种蛋白表达上升,这些蛋白功能主要涉及细胞凋亡、细胞骨架、核酸、核糖体及蛋白质代谢等,其中与凋亡关系密切的蛋白包括ATF6、Clusterin、OPA1、RGD1565411和Cofilin.结论:环巴胺通过阻断Hedgehog(HH)通路,抑制大肠癌Caco-2细胞增殖,其机制与促进细胞凋亡有关;环巴胺可明显改变Caco-2细胞线粒体蛋白表达,其差异与凋亡关系密切.     

三氧化二砷抑制淋巴瘤细胞株血管内皮生长因子表达的研究

目的 探讨三氧化二砷(ATO)对人类淋巴瘤细胞株内血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达的影响.方法 应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链(Real-time PCR)技术及酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测ATO作用前后淋巴瘤细胞株Raji及Jurkat内VEGF基因及其蛋白表达量的变化.结果 在ATO诱导淋巴瘤细胞株凋亡过程中,两种细胞未经ATO处理前均高表达VEGF mRNA(Raji加药2 μmol/L 12 h △△ Ct值0.75±0.15,Jurkat加药3.5 μmol/L 72 h △△ Ct值1.67±0.13)及VEGF蛋白(加药12 h,Raji198.38±4.37;Jurkat 563.11±3.81),且Jurkat细胞较Raji细胞的VEGF蛋白的表达量高;经ATO作用24、48、72 h后VEGF的mRNA表达量均较加药前明显减少(加药72 h △△Ct值,Raji:8.95±0.38;Jurkat:9.09±0.16),差异有统计学意义(t=3.54,P<0.01;t=3.65,P<0.01);同时蛋白表达量也较加药前明显减少(加药72 h,Raji:23.55±2.06;Jurkat:57.11±3.88),差异有统计学意义(t=2.48,P<0.05;t=2.59,P<0.05),且两者与药物作用时间明显相关,各时间点之间蛋白表达量差异均有统计学意义(F=2.47,P<0.05;F=2.50,P<0.05).结论 ATO通过阻断淋巴瘤细胞生长所需的血管条件,从而抑制淋巴瘤细胞的增殖.     

19-nor vitamin-D analogs: a new class of potent inhibitors of proliferation and inducers of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines

We have studied the in vitro biological activities and mechanisms of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) and nine potent 1,25D3 analogs on proliferation and differentiation of myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60, retinoic acid-resistant HL-60 [RA-res HL-60], NB4 and Kasumi-1). The common novel structural motiff for almost all the analogs included removal of C-19 (19-nor); each also had unsaturation of the side chain. All the compounds were potent; for example, the concentration of analogs producing a 50% clonal inhibition (ED50) ranged between 1 x 10(-9) to 4 x 10(-11) mol/L when using the HL-60 cell line. The most active compound [1, 25(OH)2-16,23E-diene-26-trifluoro-19-nor-cholecalciferol (Ro 25-9716)] had an ED50 of 4 x 10(-11) mol/L; in contrast, the 1,25D3 produced an ED50 of 10(-9) mol/L with the HL-60 target cells. Ro 25-9716 (10(-9) mol/L, 3 days) was a strong inducer of myeloid differentiation because it caused 92% of the HL-60 cells to express CD11b and 75% of these cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). This compound (10(-8) mol/L, 4 days) also caused HL-60 cells to arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle (88% cells in G1 v 48% of the untreated control cells). The p27(kip-1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor which is important in blocking the cell cycle, was induced more quickly and potently by Ro 25-9716 (10(-7) mol/L, 0 to 5 days) than by 1,25D3, suggesting a possible mechanism by which these analogs inhibit proliferation of leukemic growth. The NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cells cultured with the Ro 25-9716 were also inhibited in their clonal proliferation (ED50, 5 x 10(-11) mol/L) and their expression of CD11b was enhanced (80% positive [10(-9) mol/L, 4 days] v 27% untreated NB4 cells). Moreover, the combination of Ro 25-9716 (10(-9) mol/L) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, 10(-7) mol/L) induced 92% of the NB4 cells to reduce NBT, whereas only 26% of the cells became NBT positive after a similar exposure to the combination of 1,25D3 and ATRA. Surprisingly, Ro 25-9716 also inhibited the clonal growth of poorly differentiated leukemia cell lines (RA-res HL-60 [ED50, 4 x 10(-9) mol/L] and Kasumi-1 [ED50, 5 x 10(-10) mol/L]). For HL-60 cells, Ro 25-9716 markedly decreased the percent of the cells in S phase of the cell cycle and increased the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27(kip-1). In summary, 19-nor vitamin D3 compounds strongly induced differentiation and inhibited clonal proliferation of various myeloid leukemia cell lines, suggesting a therapeutic niche for their use in myeloid leukemia.     

去甲苔藓葸噻吩抑制血管生成作用的体外实验研究

Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Demethyl bryoanthrathiophene (DBT) on pro-liferations of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, and antian-giogenic effect of DBT on HUVECs in vitro. Methods: MTT assay was used to observe the effect of DBT on proliferations of HUVECs and A549 cells, fiat plate scarification assay and tube formation in vitro test were used to observe the impact of DBT on migration and vaso-formed ability of HUVECs. The effects of DBT on apoptosis and cell cycle of HUVECs were calculated by flow cytometry. Results: MTT assay showed that treatment with DBT resulted in strong inhibition to the growth of HUVECs and A549 cells. The inhibition effects of DBT on HUVECs and A549 cells were related to dosage and times of dependency.In different doses of DBT (0.16, 0.32 and 0.48 μmol/L) of fiat plate scarification for 24 h, inhibition rates of DBT to migration of HUVECs were 14.70%, 38.23% and 58.82%, respectively. In dose of DBT from 0.04, 0.20 to 0.40 μmol/L for 24 h in tube formation, there were significance differences (P < 0.01) in the decreasing number of angiogenesis and incomplete blood vessel compared with control groups. All results showed that DBT promoted the apoptosis rate of HUVECs, and the increase of concentration of DBT accompanied the acceleration of apoptosis rate. Conclusion: DBT could inhibit the proliferations of HUVECs and A549 cells, and effectively suppress angiogenesis in vitro.     

β-羟基异戊酰紫草素二甲醚衍生物对白血病细胞株THP-1的作用

目的 选用人类单核细胞白血病细胞株THP-1,体外加入紫草素二甲醚衍生物5,8-二甲基-2-β-羟基异戊酰紫草素(SK36),研究其在THP-1细胞株增殖和凋亡中的作用,并对其作用机制进行初步探讨.方法 CCK法检测SK36对THP-1细胞的增殖抑制作用;流式细胞术检测细胞早期凋亡标记Annexin V/PI及细胞凋亡通路Caspase活性;激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞凋亡和坏死.结果 流式细胞术检测结果显示,1.02μg/ml SK36作用24、48 h后的细胞凋亡率分别为(40.61±2.13)%和(67.40 ±9.15)%,明显高于对照组的(16.97±0.61)%,差异有统计学意义(t=18.444,t=9.528,P<0.01);SK36诱导THP-1细胞凋亡且经历了Caspase-3的激活(F=323.61,P<0.01).结论 紫草素二甲醚衍生物SK36能有效地诱导THP-1细胞凋亡,其作用机制主要是激活Caspase-3.     

Combined arsenic and retinoic acid treatment enhances differentiation and apoptosis in arsenic-resistant NB4 cells

In the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4, as well as in APL patients' cells, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) leads to incomplete cell maturation, induction of apoptosis, as well as to the degradation of the oncogenic PML/RARalpha fusion protein. We have isolated an arsenic-resistant NB4 subline (NB4-AsR), which fails to undergo apoptosis, but maintains the partial differentiation response to this drug. When grown in the presence of As2O3, NB4-AsR cells degrade PML/RARalpha, slightly differentiate, and become more sensitive to serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Similarly, in RA-resistant NB4-R1 cells, RA induced a significant PML/RARalpha degradation and yet failed to induce cell maturation. Thus, As2O3- or retinoic acid (RA)-induced PML/RARalpha degradation may be a prerequisite, but is not sufficient for the full differentiative/apoptotic response to these drugs. Strikingly, RA-triggered differentiation and apoptosis were greatly accelerated in As2O3-treated NB4-AsR cells. The synergism between these two agents in this setting could provide an experimental basis for combined or sequential RA/As2O3 therapies.     

Enhanced cytotoxicity with interleukin-1 alpha and 5-fluorouracil in HCT116 colon cancer cells

Recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha), at concentrations that were not growth-inhibitory when given alone (100-10,000 U/ml), enhanced the growth inhibition resulting from a 72-h fluorouracil (FUra) exposure in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Median-effect analysis of clonogenic assays indicated that rIL-1 alpha, given 24 h prior to and following a 24-h exposure to FUra, increased lethality in a more than additive fashion. rIL-1 alpha did not appear to significantly affect [3H]-FUra metabolism, total [3H]-FUra-RNA incorporation or RNA retention after drug removal, inhibition of thymidylate synthase, or thymidine triphosphate pool depletion. During continuous exposure to rIL-1 alpha, transient stimulation of RNA and DNA synthesis was observed at 72 h, with a return to normal by 96 h. A 24-h exposure to 10 microM FUra altered the elution profile of newly synthesized DNA as monitored by pH step alkaline elution. An accumulation of lower-MW single-stranded DNA species was noted with FUra compared to control, accompanied by a significantly decreased proportion of DNA retained on the polycarbonate filter: 10% retained vs. 32% for control (P = 0.01). A 48-h exposure to rIL-1 alpha alone did not affect the elution profile of nascent DNA species, nor did it enhance the effects of FUra. Although FUra did not appreciably affect pulse [3H]-uridine incorporation into RNA for the initial 8-24 h of FUra exposure, progressive inhibition of net RNA synthesis was observed thereafter. FUra prevented the stimulatory effect of rIL-1 alpha on RNA synthesis, and net RNA synthesis was significantly inhibited (by 64-79% after 72 and 96 h) with the combination compared to rIL-1 alpha alone. Continuous exposure to 10 microM thymidine did not rescue cells from the lethality of FUra alone or the combination of FUra plus rIL-1 alpha, suggesting that depletion of deoxythymidine triphosphate as a consequence of thymidylate synthase inhibition was not the most important component of FUra toxicity. In contrast, 1 mM uridine provided partial protection against the toxicity of FUra alone or with rIL-1 alpha. Although uridine did not affect FUra metabolism, it decreased FUra-RNA incorporation by 42-60%, presumably as a consequence of the 2-fold expansion of UTP pools. [125I]-rIL-1 alpha binding was nonspecific; with a 24-h exposure, however, internalized [125I]-rIL-1 alpha exceeded cell surface-bound material by 2-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Arsenic trioxide inhibits growth of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I infected T-cell lines more effectively than retinoic acids

Adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) is difficult to cure using conventional therapies. Recently the therapeutic possibility of retinoic acids (RA) has been reported. In this study, suppression of in vitro growth of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infected T-cell lines and fresh ATL cells by arsenic trioxide (As2O3) were evaluated by comparison with a series of RA derivatives. Proliferation of four HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines was significantly reduced within 72 h by 1.0 micromol/l As2O3. Growth of two out of four HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines was also inhibited by 1.0 micromol/l RA, but to a lesser extent than by As2O3. The mechanism of this growth inhibition was due to the induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis was also induced in fresh ATL cells from patients by AS2O3, but far less by RA. As described in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia, 1.0 micromol/l of As2O3 can be safely achieved in the serum of patients; however, it is difficult to maintain this concentration of RA. In conclusion, As2O3 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of ATL and may be far more clinically beneficial than RA.