title: Effects of tachyplesin on the regulation of cell cycle in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of tachyplesin on the cell cycle regulation in human hepatcarcinoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of tachyplesin on the cell cycle in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells were assayed with flow cytometry. The protein levels of p53, p16, cyclin D1 and CDK4 were assayed by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and c-myc genes were examined with in situ hybridization assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After tachyplesin treatment, the cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 phase, the protein levels of mutant p53, cyclin D1 and CDK4 and the mRNA level of c-myc gene were decreased, whereas the levels of p16 protein and p21(WAF1/CIP1) mRNA increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tachyplesin might arrest the cell at G0/G1 phase by upregulating the levels of p16 protein and p21(WAF1/CIP1) mRNA and downregulating the levels of mutant p53, cyclin D1 and CDK4 proteins and c-myc mRNA, and induce the differentiation of human hepatocacinoma cells.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of China Education Ministry for Cell Biology and Tumor Cell Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian Province, China. chifulee@163.net
authors.forename: Qi-Fu
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gao-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ou-Yang
authors.forename: Xuan-Xian
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shui-Gen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C057636:tachyplesin peptide, Tachypleus tridentatus