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Cell Biology International (2003) 27, 953–958 (Printed in Great Britain)

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Bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide increases the sensitivity of leukemic cells to arsenic trioxide

Y Zhang* and W.L Shen

Institute of Hematology, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China

Abstract

Cell culture, tissue chemistry and flow cytometry were used to determine whether antisense bcl-2 oligodeoxynucleotides enhanced the sensitivity of leukemia cells to arsenic trioxide. A combination of arsenic trioxide with antisense bcl-2 oligodeoxynucleotides inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis and induced bcl-2 protein expression in K562 and NB4 leukemic cells more significantly than either arsenic trioxide or the oligodeoxynucleotides on their own (P<0.01). Thus, bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides increase the sensitivity of leukemic cells to arsenic trioxide. Combined use of the two agents could be a novel and attractive strategy in leukemia treatment.

Key words: bcl-2, Apoptosis, Arsenic trioxide, Leukemia, Antisense oligonucleotide.

^*Corresponding author. Tel.: +86-20-8522-6476; fax: +86-20-8522-1343

Received 24 January 2002/26 May 2003; accepted 8 July 2003