Growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of tanshinone II-A on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of tanshinone II-A on inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.


METHODS
The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 was used for the study. The cells were treated with tanshinone II-A at different doses and different times. Cell growth and proliferation were measured by MTT assay, cell count and colony-forming assay. Apoptosis induction was detected by microscopy, DNA ladder electrophoresis and flow cytometry.


RESULTS
In MTT assay, the inhibitory effect became gradually stronger with the passage of time, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after treatment with tanshinone II-A, and the most significant effect was observed at 72 h. On the other hand, the increase of doses (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/L tanshinone II-A) resulted in enhanced inhibitory effect. The growth and proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells were obviously suppressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results of cell count were similar to that of MTT assay. In colony-forming assay, the colony-forming rates were obviously inhibited by tanshinone II-A. In tanshinone II-A group, the morphology of cellular growth inhibition and characteristics of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation, crescent formation, margination and apoptotic body were observed under light and transmission electron microscopes. DNA ladder of cells was presented in electrophoresis. The apoptosis index (AI) was 16.9% (the control group was 4.6%) in flow cytometry. The cells were arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase, and the expressions of apoptosis-related genes bcl-2 and c-myc were down-regulated and fas, bax, p53 up-regulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Tanshinone II-A could inhibit the growth and proliferation of HCC cell effectively in vitro by apoptosis induction, which was associated with up-regulation of fas, p53, bax, expression and down-regulation of bcl-2 and c-myc.
Yuan
Shu-Lan
SL
Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Human Diseases, Ministry of Education of China and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. tuyuan@mail.sc.cninfo.net
Wei
Yu-Quan
YQ
Wang
Xiu-Jie
XJ
Xiao
Fei
F
Li
Sheng-Fu
SF
Zhang
Jie
J
D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D045784:Abietanes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C021751:tanshinone