Effects of ascorbic acid and DL-alpha-tocopherol on human hepatoma cell proliferation and redifferentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of ascorbic acid (AA) and DL-alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) on the proliferation and redifferentiation of human hepatoma cell.


METHODS
Choosing an all-trans retinoic acid (RA) as a positive control, cell surface charge, biochemical changes, and cell growth in soft agar were measured.


RESULTS
After treatment with AA 4 mmol.L-1 and alpha T 1 mmol.L-1 together, the growth curve and mitotic index of human hepatoma cells decreased remarkably, the cellular growth inhibitory rate amounted to 61.3%. The indices related to cell malignancy alleviated significantly; cell surface charge decreased, the electrophoresis rate dropped from 1.64 to 0.89 microns.s-1.V-1.cm-1, the average value of alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) content decreased from 300 to 80 micrograms.g-1 (protein), and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT) activity decreased from 0.81 to 0.201 U.g-1(protein). The index related to cell differentiation increased significantly, such as the average level of tyrosine-alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase activity increased from 10.6 to 45 micrograms.g-1 (protein), and the colonogenic potential decreased by 96.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
AA and alpha T combination inhibited human hepatoma cell proliferation, induced redifferentiation, and reversed its malignant phenotypic characteristics.
Kang
J H
JH
Department of Biology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Shi
Y M
YM
Zheng
R L
RL
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D014810:Vitamin E; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid