title: Effects of sodium phenylbutyrate on differentiation and induction of the P21WAF1/CIP1 anti-oncogene in human liver carcinoma cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of sodium phenylbutyrate on the proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle arrest and induction of the P(21WAF1/CIP1) anti-oncogene in human liver carcinoma cell lines Bel-7402 and HepG2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bel-7402 and HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells were treated with sodium phenylbutyrate at different concentrations. Light microscopy was used to observe morphological changes in the carcinoma cells. Effects on the cell cycle were detected by using flow cytometry. P(21WAF1/CIP1) expression was determined by both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way anova and Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sodium phenylbutyrate treatment caused time- and dose-dependent growth inhibition of Bel-7402 and HepG2 cells. This treatment also caused a decline in the proportion of S-phase cells and an increase in the proportion of G(0)/G(1) cells. Sodium phenylbutyrate increased the expression of P(21WAF1/CIP1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sodium phenylbutyrate inhibits the proliferation of human liver carcinoma cells Bel-7402 and HepG2, induces partial differentiation, and increases the expression of P(21WAF1/CIP1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jun Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cheng Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: In
authors.forename: Ju Ren
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010654:Phenylbutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D010654:Phenylbutyrates; D012333:RNA, Messenger