Gene expression profile changes in NB4 cells induced by arsenic trioxide.

AIM To investigate the gene expression profiles of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 treated with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) using cDNA microarray. METHODS Two cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of NB4 cells treated with or without arsenic trioxide. The probes were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence dyes individually, hybridized with cDNA microarray representing 1003 different human genes, and their fluorescent intensities were scanned. The genes were screened through the analysis of the difference in two gene expression profiles. RESULTS The analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that after the treatment of arsenic trioxide (0.5 micromol/L) 3 genes were up-regulated, among which, PSMB6 gene was involved in proteasome degradation pathway, and 18 genes related to RNA processing, protein synthesis, and signal transduction were down-regulated. CONCLUSION PSMB6 and ITGB1 genes may be related to the differentiation and/or apoptosis of NB4 cells induced by As2O3.