title: [Study on mechanism of inducing apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by DMC, a chalcone from buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the in-vitro inducing apoptosis mechanism of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by 2',4'-di- hydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), a chalcone compound from Cleistocalyx operculatus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative DNA fragmentation assay was carried out to detect the effect of DMC of different concentrations on SMMC-7721 cells, according to the method of Sellins and Cohen with some modifications. Telomerase activities of the cells were determined by PCR-ELISA methods. The expression quantity of c-myc and hTERT mRNA were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR The effect of DMC on expression levels of cmyc and hTERT protein were measured by western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of DNA fragmentation increased with notable concen- tration dependence, after treatment with DMC for 48 h. Compared with that of control group, the telomerase activity of the cells de- creased by (66.2 ± 2.1)% after 48 h treatment with 20 μmol x L(-1) DMC, the mRNA expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (67.3 ± 2.1)% and (64.4 ± 2.3)%, respectively, and the protein expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (69.6 ± 1.9)% and (71.3 ± 2.4)%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DMC can induce SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis and the apoptosis mechanism may be related to the decreased mRNA and protein expression of c-myc and hTERT.
authors.forename: Chun-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yi-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Xuan-Gan
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D047188:Chalcones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C501649:2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047188:Chalcones; C489427:MYC protein, human; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase