Arsenic Trioxide Induces Erythroid Differentiation and Apoptosis of K562 Human Leukemia Cells through the Down-Regulation of Bcl-2

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been identified as an effective drug for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the role of As2O3 during the erythroid differentiation of human leukemic cells remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of As2O3 on the erythroid differentiation of the K562 cell line and also on the expression and regulation of the apoptotic modulators of this process.