title: Enhancement of antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of cadmium chloride combined with hSmac in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) combined with hSmac on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, i.e. SMMC-7721.
  
  
  METHODS
  SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-hSmac using a lipofectamine-mediated method, and then cell viability was detected by MTT assay after exposure to 10, 20, and 30 μmol/l CdCl(2). Apoptosis was determined by both acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry, and expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, and cytochrome c by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CdCl(2) had cytotoxicity to SMMC-7721 cells, and it could inhibit proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induce apoptosis; hSmac could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis independently in SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, cotreatment with CdCl(2) and hSmac could enhance antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in SMMC-7721 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hSmac could enhance the cytotoxicity of CdCl(2).
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yanbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhicheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Minghua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Guiqin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C412403:DIABLO protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D019256:Cadmium Chloride