Analysis of induction of senescence-like growth arrest in glioblastoma cells by arsenite

Abstract

[Purpose] Glioblastoma is one of the most common tumor types resistant to radiation and anti-tumor drugs. Arsenite was reported to show synergistic radiosensitization effect in vitro and in vivo. But, the mechanism of radiosensitization is not wellÅ@understood. Thus, we decided to study the mechanism of anti-tumor effect of arsenite by itself at first. [Materials and Methods] U87MG, glioblastoma cell line, was used. Cell growth was measured by counting number of cells at various time points. Cell death was measured by trypan-blue staining. [Results] Growth of U87MG was significantlly decreased by arsenite alone, and insignificant number of cell death was also observed. The morphology of U87MG cells exposed to arsenite revealed senescence like shapes and also these cells are positive for SA-É¿-galactosidase as known senescence marker. Our result indicates that arsenite alone induced senescence-like growth arrest in U87MG cells. Expression patterns of senescence associated proteins are being analyzed by Western blotting and the data will be presented.