Abstract:

Objective To study the effects of telomerase inhibitor zidovudine (AZT) on the cell morphology,survival rate and telomerase activity of osteosarcoma cell line (HOS) in vitro,and to provide the experimental basis for the application of telmoerase inhibitors in  treatment of osteosarcoma. Methods The osteosarcoma cells (HOS) at logarithmic growth phase were divided into  AZT groups and control,the  medium were added with  100 μL AZT diluted with culture medium  with different  concentrations (1，10,100,1000  μmol/L)  and the same volume of culture medium,24,48,72 h after culture,the morphological changes of osteosarcoma cells were observed with light microscope;the survival rate was detected by MTT assay;the changes of telomerase activity were determined by TRAP-PCR-ELISA.Results After treated with  AZT,osteosarcoma cell line (HOS) had an obvious change in shape by size decreasing and shrinkage.The short spindle became polygonal or irregular in shape,and with neighboring cells detachment.Compared with control group,the survial rates in AZT groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in a time- and dose- dependent manner.Its IC50 was 100 μmol/L.The telomerase activity of HOS cells was decreased by 55.74％after treated with 100 μmol/L AZT for 72 h.Conclusion AZT has a significantly inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HOS cells,and AZT can reduce the telomerase activity of osteosarcoma cells.

Key words: telomerase inhibitors;osteosarcoma;cell proliferation