[Study on the differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cell line induced by Puerarin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by different doses of Purerarin(PR) comparing with all-trans retinoic acid(ATRA) and to see if PR can induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells. METHODS: Cell differentiation was analyzed by NBT reduction, the ratio of NBT/MTT and CD11b, apoptosis by morphology, DNA electrophoresis, and flow cytometry(FCM). RESULTS: 80 micrograms.ml-1, 160 micrograms.ml-1, 320 micrograms.ml-1 PR could induce differentiation of HL-60 cells, no significant difference was observed between the cells treated with 1 mumol.L-1 ATRA and 320 micrograms.ml-1 PR. Treated with 320 micrograms.ml-1, 640 micrograms.ml-1 PR, HL-60 cells exhibited a morphological characteristic of apoptosis and typical DNA ladder on gel electrophoresis. FCM analysis showed that PR could interfere with cell cycle in HL-60 cells, with a increased ratio of sub-G1 in HL-60 cells. CONCLUSION: PR exerts effect on differentiation and induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells.