Objective: To study whether oltipraz can induce apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma (GLC-82) cells and its possible mechanism.
Methods: Light microscopy, DNA electrophoresis, flow cytometry and video time-lapse monitoring were used to observe apoptosis of GLC-82 induced by oltipraz.
Results: GLC-82 cells treated with oltipraz underwent the arrest of cell mitosis at metaphase, higher percentage of G(2)/M and peak of apoptosis were found, and cell body shrunk, nuclear chromosome condensed or fragmented and nuclear DNA fragment displayed "laden" bands in apoptic cells. Apoptosis of GLC-82 induced by oltipraz was more obvious at a concentration of 120 microg/ml.
Conclusion: Oltipraz could induce apoptosis of GLC-82 at certain concentrations, which associated closely with the arrest of mitotic cycle.