Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of chromosome formation of HeLa cell line induced by aclarubicin and the relationship of aclarubicin to apoptosis. Methods: MTT assay was used to detect the half-inhibition concentration (IC 50) of aclarubicin on HeLa cell line, then aclarubicin with different concentrations was chosen to treat HeLa cells for 24 hours, and the nuclei and chromosomes were stained with Giemsastain. Apoptosis of HeLa cell was detected with acridine orange and ethidium bromide(AO / EB) double fluorescence stain and agarose gel electrophoresis. Caspase-3 was assessed with western blot method. Results: After HeLa cells were treated with aclarubicin, the IC 50 was 6.83 μg / ml. The normal chromosome formation was blocked and chromatin condensed disorderly. Apoptosis and DNA fragments were apparent in the 10 μg / ml group. The caspase-3 content in the 10 μg / ml group also showed a marked increase compared with the control and the 0.1 μg / ml group. Conclusion: Aclarubicin can inhibit the normal chromatin condensation and induce the cells G 2 / M arrest, and causes apoptosis. Caspase-3 may play an important role in apoptosis of HeLa cells induced by aclarubicin.

Key words: aclarubicin (ACR), chromatin condensation, apoptosis, caspase-3