Differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by realgar nano-particles / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the proliferation inhibition and the differentiation effects of realgar (As4S4) nano-particles on human acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Cell viability was determined by MTT and PI-stained cell cycle assays. The realgar induced morphological changes on cells were examined after Wright-Giemsa staining. The cell differentiation was evaluated with NBT and specific cell surface antigen (CD11b and CD14) expression assays.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>HL-60 cells exhibited obvious morphological features of differentiation after the realgar treatment. A 24 h incubation of the cells with 0.25-1.0 micromol x L(-1) realgar caused a great increase in NBT reduction ability. The expressions of CD11b and CD14 were augmented in cells treated with 0.50 micromol x L(-1) realgar for 48 h, and cell cycles were arrested in G1 phase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low dose realgar induces differentiation in human acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60.</p>

Realgar nano-particles induce apoptosis and necrosis in leukemia cell lines K562 and HL-60 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>

Speciation analysis of arsenic in traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Some of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contain arsenide, such as realgar. The total amount of arsenic in the TCM exceeds the limits according to related regulations. But the roles of arsenic in TCM or its side-effects depend on its species existed in those therapies, not the total amount of arsenic. Therefore, in recent years, the analysis of arsenic in TCM focuses on the species of arsenic. The present paper summarized some methods and techniques in the speciation analysis of arsenic in TCM, in order that optimal methods can be chosen and the roles of arsenic could be evaluated properly.