title: Low intensity-pulsed ultrasound induced apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.
abstract: The present study was conducted to determine whether low intensity-pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) could induce apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, SMMC-7721, and to define the mechanism of ultrasound-induced apoptosis, in vitro. MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation. Apoptosis was investigated by multiple methods such as flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation, Ca(2+) mobilizations, pro- and anti-apoptotic protein expression, and light as well as ultramicroscopic morphology. The results provide evidence that LIPUS induced a dose-dependent effect on cell viability and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. Specifically, exposure of cells to >0.5 W/cm(2) intensity significantly increased cell apoptosis, caused shifts in cell cycle phase, and induced structural changes. Ultrasound significantly increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations and modulated expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. The findings suggest that this novel technology can be used to induce SMMC-7721 apoptosis via the Ca(2+)/mitochondrial pathway and could potentially be of clinical use for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (SMMC-7721 cell line) and other cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Mingfang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: liu.bangzhong@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
authors.forename: Bangzhong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Mingzhen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptosis; Calcium ion; Low intensity-pulsed ultrasound; Mitochondrial pathway; SMMC-7721 cells