Effects of arsenic trioxide on apoptosis and interleukin-4 release of peripheral T cells from asthmatic patients in vitro / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM To study the possible mechanism of the treatment of arsenic trioxide on asthma. METHODS T cells isolated from 21 asthmatic patients and 20 healthy controls were treated with arsenic trioxide (0.1 mg·L-1) or dexamethasone (5 mg·L-1),in vitro, for 24 h. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in supernatants from T cells were quantified with ELISA. Cell apoptosis was measured by using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and cytochrome c ELISA kit. RESULTS T cells of asthmatic patients spontaneously released more IL-4 than that of healthy controls. Arsenic trioxide significantly decreased IL-4 release of T cells from asthmatic patients, which was more obvious compared with healthy controls. Dexamethasone decreased IL-4 release in both groups. Apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content in cytoplasm of T cells from asthmatic patients were lower than those from healthy controls. Arsenic trioxide significantly increased the apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content in cytoplasm of T cells in the asthmatic group, and had slighter effects on that in healthy controls. Dexamathasone increased the apoptosis percentage and cytochrome c content of T cells in both groups. CONCLUSION The mechanism of the treatment of arsenic trioxide on asthma involves the induction of T cell apoptosis and decrease of IL-4 release in asthmatic patients.