title: [Combination of triptolide with sodium cantharidinate synergistically enhances apoptosis on  hepatoma cell line 7721].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the combined cytotoxic effect and the molecular basis of triptolide and sodium cantharidinate on hepatoma cell line 7721.
  
  
  METHODS
  After treating the hepatoma cell line 7721 with triptolide(9, 18, or 36 μg/mL) and/or sodium cantharidinate (2, 5, or 10 μg/mL), cell viability assay and apoptosis were examined by MTT and flocytometry, respectively. The protein levels of caspase 3 and nuclear factor κB were analyzed by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viability of hepatoma cell line 7721 was inhibited by either the therapy of triptolide and/or sodium cantharidinate (P<0.05) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The combined effects of both drugs were better than those of the single drug (P<0.05). The combined therapy down-regulated the expression of NF-κB p65 (P<0.05) while up-regulated the expression of caspase-3 (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triptolide and sodium cantharidinate exert a synergistic toxic effect on hepatoma cell line 7721, which is related to increasing capase-3 activity and suppression of NF- κB.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Yuyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Pre-Clinical Medicine School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.
authors.forename: Mingyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Xuejuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Zaifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China.
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C498143:RELA protein, human; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C001899:triptolide; D053148:Caspase 3; D002193:Cantharidin