title: [The apoptotic mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) induced by arsenic trioxide].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the apoptotic mechanism of human hepatic carcinoma cell line HepG2 induced by arsenic trioxide (As2O3).
  
  
  METHODS
  The human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was treated with 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 micromol/L arsenic trioxide for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT assay (additional 25 and 50 micromol/L arsenic trioxide treatment groups), cellular apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were quantified by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe staining and glutathione content were measured by DTNB method with commercial kits. Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS, GCLC and GCLM subunits) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the increase of arsenic trioxide concentration, cellular survival, glutathione content and gamma-GCS (GCLC and GCLM subunits) protein expression level decreased (P < 0.05); while cellular apoptotic rate, reactive oxygen species level and Nrf2 protein expression increased (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arsenic trioxide induces the apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 through ROS induction, gamma-GCS expression inhibition and cellular glutathione content depletion.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Cheng-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zun-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide