Objective: To evaluate whether realgar could down-regulate human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene expression and telomerase activity in acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line-NB4 cells. Methods: The expression of hTERT-mRNA was analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Telomerase activity was determined by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunoassay (PCR-ELISA). Flow cytometry using PI staining was applied to analyze the cell cycle and apoptosis. Results: Treatment of NB4 cells with 155, 300, 600 μg/L realgar reduced telomerase activity significantly accompanying with decrease of hTERT-mRNA and increasing cell apoptosis. G2/M phase arrest appeared when treated with realgar in 300, 600 μg/L. Conclusion: It is suggested that telomerase activity of NB4 cells can be specifically inhibited by realgar through the down-regulation of hTERT gene expression. G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis by realgar in NB4 cells might be related to the reduction of telomerase activity and hTERT-mRNA expression.
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