Genes in apoptosis induced by anisomycin in human leukemia U937 cells

Anisomycin is known as a potent apoptosis inducer by activating JNK/SAPK and inhibiting protein synthesis during translation. However, only few details are known on the mechanism of apoptosis induced by this compound. Genes in apoptosis induced by anisomycin in human leukemia U937 cells were investigated by using an Affymetrix GeneChip system. DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization assays clearly demonstrated that anisomycin induced apoptosis in a time- and concentration- dependent manner. Of 22,283 probe sets analyzed, this compound down-regulated 524 probe sets and up-regulated 523 by a factor 1.5 or greater. Keywords: anisomycin, gene expression, Human lymphoma U937 cell U937 cells, a human lymphoma cell line, were incubated with anisomycin (1 μM) for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 h at 37°C. Total RNA samples were prepared from the cells. Gene expression was analyzed by an Affymetrix GeneChip® system with Human Expression Array U133A which was spotted with 22,283 probe sets. Sample preparation for array hybridization was carried out as described in the manufacture’s instructions.