[en] To investigate the effect of artesunate on radio-sensitivity of human cervical cancer cells in vitro. The human cervical cancer cells HeLa and Siha were used as the experimental cells. MTT assay was used to determine the most appropriate drug concentration in the subsequent experiment, and the effect of human cervical cancer cells treated with artesunate and irradiation of ⁶⁰Co γ-rays was studied by using conventional chromosomal aberration analysis and cytokinesis block method (CB method). The results show that when the concentration of artesunate in this experiment was 2.0 μmol/L for HeLa cell and 4.0 μmol/L for Siha cell respectively, the chromosome aberration, micronuclei cell and micronuclei rates of HeLa cells treated with artesunate were more serious than that of the only irradiation, but there is almost no change with Siha cells. (authors)

[en] To investigate the difference of chromosome aberration and peripheral hemogram between uranium miners and healthy adults, 64 healthy peoples (control group) and 236 uranium miners (miners group) volunteered to take part in the investigation. The peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosome aberration and peripheral hemogram were analyzed by micro whole blood culture method and blood cell analyzer, respectively. The result show that chromosome-tape aberrations rate, chromatid-tape aberrations, total aberrations rate, and the aberrant cells rate in miners group were 0.16%, 0.20%, 0.36% and 0.30%, respectively, whereas these index in control group were 0.02%, 0.06%, 0.08%, and 0.08%, respectively. There is statistically significant difference between miners group and control group (u = 2.80, p < 0.01; u = 2.40, p < 0.05; u = 3.60, p < 0.01; χ² = 9.88, p < 0.01). There is significant difference in the counts of PLT between miners group and control group (160.53 ± 41.74 vs.218.04 ± 34.98, 10⁹/L, p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference in the counts of WBC and RBC (WBC: 6.63 ± 1.58 vs. 6.89 ± 1.69, 10⁹/L; RBC: 4.95 ± 0.53 vs.4.98 ± 0.47, 10¹²/L, p > 0.05). And there is significant difference in the abnormal rates of RBC between miners group and control group (11.02% vs.0%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, Owing to the effect of the radiation, the chromosome aberration rate of uranium miners has been increased. The analysis of chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes is more sensitive than that of peripheral hemogram index in the occupational health examination for radiological workers. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the radiosensitization of artesunate on nude mouse transplanted with HeLa cells,and to explore its possible mechanisms. Methods: HeLa cells were inoculated into the nude mice to establish tumor model. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups as blank control,artesunate group, radiation group and artesunate + radiation group when average volume of tumor were about 5 mm × 5 mm× 5 mm. During the term of treatment, the volume of tumors were measured every 2 days. After 14 days treatment, the mice were killed and tumor tissues were harvested for flow cytometry to detect the alteration of cell cycle. Meanwhile, the pathological change of the tumor tissue was observed with HE staining method, and the change of expression of cycle regulatory protein Cyclin B1, Cdc2 and Wee1 were detected by Western blot. Results: The growth of tumor was significantly inhibited by artesunate combined with radiation and its inhibition rate was 72.34%. Flow cytometry results showed that the percent of cells in G₁ phase increased and G₂ phase decreased in the artesunate + radiation group compared with those in irradiation group (t=4.41, 4.12, P<0.05). The expression level of Cyclin B1 was obviously increased while that of Wee1 decreased in the artesunate + radiation compared with irradiation group. There was no difference in the expression of Cdc2 among the four groups. Conclusions: Artesunate can dramatically increase the radiosensitivity of transplanted tumor of HeLa cells. The possible mechanism might be related to the decreasing G₂ phase by regulating the expression of Cyclin B1 and Wee1. (authors)

[en] In order to investigate the effect of artesunate combined with irradiation on DNA damage of HeLa and Siha cells of human cervical cancer, HeLa and Siha cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to different concentration of artesunate for 24 h and MTT assay was used to observe the inhibitory effect of different concentration of artesunate on the proliferation of HeLa and Siha cells. The cells were divided into 2 groups as the irradiated group and the union treatment group. Here it was set up four absorbed doses of ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation in each group with 0, 2, 4 and 6 Gy, and the DNA damage were detected by single cell gel electrophoresis assay. MTT analysis showed that the inhibition of artesunate on HeLa and Siha cells of cervical cancer was in concentration-dependent manners. Single cell gel electrophoresis showed that the DNA damage of HeLa cells treated with artesunate was more serious than that treated only with irradiation (P<0.05), but had no such effect on Siha cells. Artesunate can increase the radio-sensitivity of HeLa cells cervical cancer with p53 mutant, but has no such effect on wide type p53 cells. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the effect of Artesunate combining with radiation on apoptosis in transplanted tumors. Methods: HeLa cells were inoculated into the nude mice to develop a tumor model. Mice were randomized into four groups as the control group, the Artesunate group,the irradiation group and the combination group when average volume of tumor achieved about 5 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm. During the period of treatment, the volume of tumors was measured per 2 days. After 14 days treatment, the mice were killed and tumor tissues were harvest, the tumor size and weight were measured, tumor inhibitory rate calculated and TUNEL assay was used to analysis the apoptosis of tumor tissue. Results: The tumor weight in combination group was significantly lower than that than in the irradiation group [(0.64 ± 0.11) gvs (1.31 ± 0.58) g] (P<0.05), the tumor inhibitory rate was 71.17%. The apoptosis in the combination group was obviously higher than that in the irradiation group [(77.5 ± 8.07) %vs (48.80 ± 6.71) %] (P<0.05 ). Conclusion: Artesunate can dramatically increase the radiosensitivity of tumor model transplanted with HeLa cells of cervical cancer, the possible mechanism of radiosensitization of Artesunate is related to increasing apoptosis of tumor cells. (authors)