[An experimental study on arsenic trioxide-selectively induced human hepatocarcinoma cell lines apoptosis and its related genes].
OBJECTIVE
To study the possible apoptosis-inducing effect of arsenic trioxide on human hepatocarcinoma (HCC) cells, and its molecular mechanisms.


METHODS
Arsenic trioxide action on the cell growth, apoptosis, periodicity and the expression of related genes in two human hepatocarcinoma cell lines QGY-7701 and QGY-7703, and normal humanhepatic cell line L-02 in vitro was observed by MTT assay, acridine orange (AO) /ethidiumbromide (EB) fluorescent staining, electron microscopy detection, DNA gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, TUNEL assay and immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Arsenic trioxide could strongly inhibit the growth of human hepatocarcinoma cells QGY-7701 and QGY-7703 with the cell cycle arrested on S phase, and induce the apoptosis of the cells with bcl-2 gene expression down-regulated and bax and Fas gene expression up-regulated. But arsenic trioxide had no obvious effect on the normal hepatic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Arsenic trioxide has significant selective apoptosis-inducing effect on the human hepatocarcinoma cells, which is regulated by several genes. The results provide the credible experimental basis for clinically treating HCC with arsenic trioxide.
Liu
L
L
Tumor Center, the 81st hospital of PLA, Nanjing 210002, China.
Qin
S
S
Chen
H
H
Wang
J
J
Chen
H
H
Ma
J
J
Liu
W
W
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; C494826:BAX protein, human; D010087:Oxides; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide