ARSENIC TRIOXIDE INDUCES PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH OF HUMAN GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA SGC7901 CELLS AND DECREASES C-MYC GENE EXPRESSION

AIM: To study the biological effect of As₂O₃ on human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC7901 cells and its mechanisms. METHODS: MTT reduction assay, morphology investigation, flow cytometry analysis, DNA gel electrophoresis and In situ cell death detection (TUNEL), semiquantitive RT-PCR were adopted. RESULTS: As₂O₃ inhibited the survival of SGC7901 cell line. The cells treated with As₂O₃ showed a typical apoptotic morphology and hypodiploid peak before G1 phase. DNA of the treated SGC7901 cells appeared a ladder pattern characteristic of apoptosis. TUNEL detection analysis also revealed DNA fragmentation. Moreover, As₂O₃ decreased the c-myc gene expression. CONCLUSION: As₂O₃ can induce programmed death of SGC7901 cells mainly via down regulation of c-myc gene expression.