Effect of Formaldehyde on Cellular Proliferation of HEK293 Cells

In order to investigate the influences of formaldehyde with different doses on the cellular proliferation and cell cycle of the HEK293 cells, methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were applied to measure the cellular proliferation and cell cycle. After the HEK293 cells were treated by low dose of formaldehyde (60mumol/L) for 12 hours, the percentage of phase Gl (28.4%) was decreased 23.24% compared with that of the control group (37.0%), but the percentage of phase S (48.5%) was increased 19.16% compared with that of the control group (40.7%); After the HEK293 cells were treated by the high dose of formaldehyde (240mumol/L) for 12 hours, the percentage of phase Gl (39.9%) was increased 7.8% compared with that of the control group (37.0%), the percentage of phase S (32.8%) was decreased 19.41% compared with that of the control group (40.7%). The results demonstrate that formaldehyde can promote the cellular proliferation of the HEK293 cells at the low dose (60mumol/L) and can inhibit the cellular proliferation of the HEK293 cells at the high dose (240 mumol/L).