Introduction of apoptosis and inhibition of SMMC-7721 growth by 2-arsonoacetic acid

Abstract

2-Arsonoacetic acid (ASAC) is an organic arsenic compound synthesized by complexing As2O3, which has been shown to inhibit tumour cell proliferation via apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In this study, we investigated the effects of ASAC on cell proliferation, cell cycle phases distribution and apoptosis. The antiproliferative effects of ASAC against SMMC-7721 cells were tested in vitro using MTT assays. The changes of morphological features of cells such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, plasma membrane blebbing, and finally the breakdown of the cell into smaller units (apoptotic bodies) were observed by transmission electronic microscopy and lighting microscopy. Flow cytometry showed that ASAC leads to G2/M arrest and the mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Taken together, the resulets indicated that ASAC inhibits the growth of SMMC-7721 cells via cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.