[Effect of imatinib at different concentrations on rat C6 glioma cell apoptosis and cell cycle].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of imatinib on rat C6 glioma cell apoptosis and cell cycle. METHODS:MTT assay was used to determine the OD value of C6 glioma cells following treatment with imatinib at different concentrations (0.156, 10 and 15 micromo/L) for 24, 48 and 72 h. The cell apoptosis was assayed by Hochest/PI staining and the cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Imatinib treatment resulted in increased number of apoptotic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A 72-h treatment of the cells with imatinib at 10 and 15 micromo/L caused increased cell percentage in G(0)/G(1) phase to (68.53-/+0.83)% and (70.41-/+0.62)%, (P<0.01), decreased the percentage of G(2) phase cells to (14.48-/+0.12)% and (13.84-/+2.86)% (P<0.01), and decreased the percentage of S phase cells to (16.98-/+0.72)% and (15.78-/+2.28)%, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Imatinib can induce apoptosis and affect the distribution of the cell cycle of C6 cells in vitro.