Objective: To evaluate whether arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) could downregulate human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene expression and telomerase activity during induction of apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Methods: Apoptosis was detected by morphological observation and flow cytomertric cell cycle analysis. The expression of hTERT at mRNA and protein levels was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence using fluoresce isothiocyanate (FITC) label, respectively. Telomerase activity was determined by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunoassay (PCR-ELISA). Results: Treatment of 2 μmol/L at As2O3 could induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells. hTERT was decreased at both mRNA and protein levels during apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Telomerase activity of HL-60 cells was significantly inhibited. Conclusion:It is suggested that telomerase activity of HL-60 cells might be specifically inhibited by AS2O3 through the downregulation of hTERT gene expression.
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