Effects of matrine on HepG2 cell proliferation and expression of tumor relevant proteins in vitro.
Matrine, one of the main active components extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavescens Ait (Leguminosae), has been reported to have anticancer effects on a number of cancer cell lines, but the anticancer mechanism of matrine remains elusive. This study shows that matrine also displays anticancer activity on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. In this work, the optimal cultivation condition for HepG2 cells was determined using the combinatorial orthogonal test design [L18 (21 x 37)]. Exposure of HepG2 cells to matrine resulted in inhibition of proliferation in both a time- and dose-dependent manner, as measured by morphology observation, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and MTT assay (p<0.05). Further immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the expression of alpha fetal protein (AFP), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), C-myc and Bcl-2 was down-regulated significantly, but the expression of Bax was up-regulated higher than untreated cells. The results demonstrated that matrine inhibited HepG2 cells proliferation primarily via up-regulating or down-regulating expression of the tumor relevant proteins.
Qin
Xue-Gong
XG
College of Biological Science and Technology, HeiLongJiang August First Land Reclamation University, DaQing, China. huazi8541@hotmail.com
Hua
Zhang
Z
Shuang
Wang
W
Wang
Yan-Hong
YH
Cui
Yu-Dong
YD
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000093842:Matrines
D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011807:Quinolizines; D000093842:Matrines