Effects of glutamine on tumor growth and apoptosis of hepatoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of glutamine on growth and apoptosis of hepatoma cells.


METHODS
Mice inoculated with hepatoma cell (H22) suspension subcutaneously at right axilla were orally administered with glutamine (GLN) solution. Human hepatoma cell culture (SMMC-7721) was treated with different concentrations of GLN solution. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) was detected in mice plasma and cell culture, and that of glutathione (GSH) was decected in cells. The inoculated tumor's growth in the mice and hepatoma cells' proliferation and apoptosis were observed.


RESULTS
When mice were administered orally with GLN solution (300 mg/kg), the growth of inoculated hepatoma was suppressed in the mice. When different concentrations of GLN solution were added in human hepatoma cell culture, the hepatoma cells' proliferation was inhibited and cells were induced to apoptosis, which was dependent on GLN concentration; meanwhile the contents of NO rose both in mice plasma and in cell culture, however MDA contents were slightly lowered in both, and the activity of GSH increased in the cells which had been ultrasonically shattered.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatoma cell apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition by GLN may be associated with its antioxidative activity and its intervention in hepatoma cell proliferation, and simultaneous release of NO.
Liu
S L
SL
Department of Biochemistry, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China. slliu@shmu.edu.cn
Shi
D Y
DY
Shen
Z H
ZH
Wu
Y D
YD
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D005973:Glutamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione