Effect of nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells.
OBJECTIVE
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been suggested to be associated with carcinogenesis. We sought to investigate the effect of the selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells.


METHODS
This study was carried out on the culture of hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. Various concentrations of Nimesulide (0, 200 micromol/L, 300 micromol/L, 400 micromol/L) were added and incubated. Cell proliferation was detected with MTT colorimetric assay, cell apoptosis by electron microscopy, flow cytometry and TUNEL.


RESULTS
Nimesulide could significantly inhibit SMMC-7721 cells proliferation dose-dependent and in a dependent manner compared with that of the control group. The duration lowest inhibition rate produced by Nimesulide in SMMC-7721 cells was 19.06%, the highest inhibition rate was 58.49%. After incubation with Nimesulide for 72 h, the most highest apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells comparing with those of the control were 21.20%+/-1.62% vs 2.24%+/-0.26% and 21.23+/-1.78 vs 2.01+/-0.23 (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide can inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and increase apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells. The apoptosis rate and the apoptosis index are dose-dependent. Under electron microscope SMMC-7721 cells incubated with 300 micromol and 400 micromol Nimesulide show apoptotic characteristics. With the clarification of the mechanism of selective COX-2 inhibitors, These COX-2 selective inhibitors can become the choice of prevention and treatment of cancers.
Tian
Geng
G
Gastroenterology department. Renmin hospital of Wuhan university, 238 Jie-fang Road,Wuhan 430060,Hubei Province,China.
Yu
Jie-Ping
JP
Luo
He-Sheng
HS
Yu
Bao-Ping
BP
Yue
Hui
H
Li
Jian-Ying
JY
Mei
Qiao
Q
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C012655:nimesulide