title: Inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and to explore the mechanism of its effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  SMMC-7721 cells were divided into two groups, one treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 5 days and the other as a control group. Light microscope and electron microscope were used to observe the morphological changes. Telomerase activity was analyzed with silver-stained telomere repeated assay protocal (TRAP). Expression of Caspase-3 was demonstrated with western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ATRA-treated cells showed differentiation features including small and pyknotic nuclei, densely stained chromatin and fewer microvilli. Besides, ATRA could inhibit the activity of telomerase, promote the expression of Caspase-3 and its activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telomerase activity and Caspase-3 expression are changed in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 treated with all-trans retinioc acid. The inhibition of telomerase activity and the activation of Caspase-3 may be the key steps through which ATRA inhibits the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cell line.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Pu-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin; D019098:Telomerase; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases