title: Effects and mechanism of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line Bel-7402.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects and mechanism of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line Bel-7402.
  
  
  METHODS
  SAHA treatment and control groups were designed in this study. To observe the morphological characteristics and the inhibition of cell proliferation, we conducted confocal microscopy and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, respectively. Changes in cell apoptosis and cell cycle were then determined by flow cytometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was also conducted to detect the mRNA expressions of p53, bcl-2 and bax genes. Caspase-3 protein activity was determined by spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell proliferation in the SAHA treatment group could be inhibited in a time- and dose-dependent manner. FCM analysis showed that the early apoptosis rate in the SAHA treatment group increased significantly. Furthermore, cell cycle was arrested at the S phase. RT-PCR assay confirmed that SAHA could upregulate the mRNA expressions of p53 and bax genes. By comparison, SAHA could downregulate the mRNA expression of bcl-2. SAHA induced apoptosis by activating the caspase-3 pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAHA inhibited cell proliferation and promoted human hepatoma Bel-7402 cell apoptosis by affecting caspase-3 protein activity and mRNA expressions of p53, bcl-2 and bax genes.
authors.forename: Yingchun C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Zong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Lan-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016158:Genes, p53; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D000077337:Vorinostat; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000077337:Vorinostat; D053148:Caspase 3