Securinine induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells

AIM: To study whether securinine might induce apoptosis in human leukemia H L-60 cells. METHODS: Inhibition of proliferation was measured using MTT ass ay. The amount of apoptotic cells was measured by flow cytometry. DNA fragm entation was visualized by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and the cellular changes were observed by electron microscope. RESULTS: Securinine 5 - 80 m g . L-1 elicited typical apoptosis morphological changes and DNA fragmentat ion in a concentration-dependent manner in HL-60 cells. Securinine inhibite d HL-60 cell proliferation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. T he IC50 and 95 % confidence limits were 27 (15 - 47) mg . L-1 after 12-h tr eatment with securinine. CONCLUSION: Securinine induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.