[Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG-2].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) on proliferation and malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG-2.


METHODS
HepG-2 cells were cultured by routine method, and then treated with different concentrations of GABA. The proliferation of HepG-2 cells was measured through MTT, doubling time and cell cycles by flow cytometry. The malignant phenotypes were investigated by soft agar colony formation assay.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, GABA efficiently stimulated the proliferation of HepG-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and affected the distribution of cell cycles of HepG-2 cells. The doubling time of the control group and the GABA-treated group were 39.0, 30.6, 30.0, 27.3, 26.6, and 38.2 h, respectively. The colony formation rates were 3.2%, 4.2%, 5.4%, 6.6%,6.5%, and 3.5%, respectively. Tumorigenicity testing showed that the average weights of tumor was 1.382 g, and 0.285 g for the 2 groups. The difference between the control group and the GABA-treated groups was significant (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
GABA can enhance the proliferation and malignant phenotypes of HepG-2 cells.
Li
Yuehui
Y
Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Liu
Yan
Y
Wang
Jiajia
J
Hu
Jinyue
J
Zhou
Guohua
G
Xie
Pingli
P
Li
Guancheng
G
D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010641:Phenotype; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid