Effects of magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 combinated with gambogic acid on apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the potential benefit of combination therapy with magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-MNP) and gambogic acid (GA) on SMMC-7721 cells.


METHODS
The inhibition of proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell apoptosis was calculated and analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expressions of the apoptosis-related protein were detected by Western blot.


RESULTS
GA enhanced the cytotoxicity of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The Fe3O4-MNP itself had no obviously inhibitory effect, but it could enhance the effect of GA on proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells. The apoptotic rate of SMMC-7721 cells induced by combination of GA with Fe3O4-MNP was higher than that by GA alone. The expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8 after co-treatment of GA and Fe3O4-MNP were higher than that exposed to either GA or Fe3O4-MNP alone, while the levels of bcl-2 were downregulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Fe3O4-MNP can promote GA-induced apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells, which may be related to the downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of caspase-3.
Department of Hematology and Oncology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Liang
L
Tian
Department of Hematology and Oncology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Bao-An
BA
Chen
Department of Hematology and Oncology (Key Department of Jiangsu Medicine), The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Jian
J
Cheng
China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Qing-Long
QL
Guo
anti-tumor activity; primary hepatocellular carcinoma; targeted-drug carrier; traditional Chinese medicine