Various tolerances to arsenic trioxide between human cortical neurons and leukemic cells

摘要

Arsenic trioxide (As_2O_3) is very effective for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) but little can pass through the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), which limits its use in the prevention and treatment of central nervous system leukaemia (CNSL). Before creating a non-invasive method to help As_2O_3 's access, the safe and effective therapeutic concentration of As_2O_3 in the CNS ought to be known. The changes of apoptosis biomarkers, [Ca~(2+)]_i and PKC activity of both leukaemia cells and human cortical neurons, were monitored before and after being treated with As_2O_3 in vitro with laser confocal microscopy and Western blot. NSE concentration, the neuron invasive biomarker, was monitored by enzyme immunoassay (NSE-EIA). This study revealed that cortical neuron was more tolerable to As_2O_3 compared to NB4. 1.0 μmol / L As_2O_3 showed little influence on cortical neuron but effectively promoted apoptosis and induced differentiation of NB4.