title: [Downregulation of HSP70 gene expression and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells induced by nimesulide in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of nimesulide on cell apoptosis and possible mechanism in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  SMMC-7721 cells were treated with nimesulide at different concentrations. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis rate was determined with flow cytometry.  The cleavage activity of PARP and caspase-9 and the expression of HSP70 were  evaluated using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The influence of  HSP70 on cell apoptosis was observed using RNA interference silencing HSP70 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nimesulide significantly inhibited cell growth in SMMC-7721 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner,  and induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover,  nimesulide promoted the cleavage of caspase-9 and PARP and inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of HSP70. Through the specific inhibition on HSP70 gene with siRNA,  cell apoptosis increased,  and the apoptosis was enhanced by the cleavage activity of caspase-9 and PARP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nimesulide could inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells via the downregulation of HSP70.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, China. yinguozhi2005@126.com
authors.forename: Guo-zhi
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Kang-sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Shao-shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing-guang
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying-min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; C012655:nimesulide