Combined effects or sodium selenite and all-trans retinoic acid on proliferation and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60)

HL-60 cell line was used to study the combined effects of sodium selenite and all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on proliferation and differentiation. The results are as follows: Combination of 5. 8μmol/L Na2SeO3 and 0. 1μmol/L RA inhibited cell growth significantly without increased toxicity. Sodium selenite alone was not capable of inducing morphorlogical and functional differentiation of HL-60 cells towards to the granulocytic lineage. However, 72% of mature myeloid cells could be found after 5-day's combined treatment. In comparision with that in the group of treatment with 0. 1μmol/L RA, only 39% of the cells could be found. Similar results were also found in the tests of NBT reduction.