Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemic cells through down-regulation of survivin via the p53-dependent signaling pathway

摘要

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) can induce apoptosis in many tumors. However, the associated mechanisms are not clearly understood. We found that As2O3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of WSU-CLL cells and induced apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manners. WSU-CLL cells treated with 2μM As2O3 showed survivin down-regulation and p53 up-regulation. Survivin siRNA combined with As2O3 further inhibited the proliferation of WSU-CLL cells. p53 inhibition by siRNA prevented the down-regulation of survivin by As2O3 and prevented the As2O3-induced cytotoxicity of WSU-CLL cells. These results suggest that As2O3 may be of therapeutic value for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.