Rapamycin inhibits cell growth by induction of apoptosis on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

摘要: Abstract Background Rapamycin, isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus , is recently reported to have immunosuppressant and anti-tumor effects on a large variety of cancers. To date, no detailed data are available about the rapamycin hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Objective In this study, anti-proliferation cells BEL-7402 HepG-2 in vitro were studied. Methods Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay [ 3 H]-thymidine uptake, cell apoptosis observed Hoechst 33258 staining flow cytometry (FCM). The variation caspase-3 apoptotic related genes assayed Western blotting, mitochondrial membrane potential also investigated using standard methods. Results Rapamycin could inhibit growth cause significantly; suppression both time- dose-dependent manner, marked morphological changes very clearly staining. exhibits induction activation disruption vitro. blotting analysis demonstrated that anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 down-regulated while pro-apoptotic Bcl-xl up-regulated remarkably time-dependent manner when occurred. Conclusion has significant effect via potential, as well down-regulation up-regulation provide mechanism for rapamycin-induced cells, suggesting may serve an effective adjunctive reagent treatment residual cancer after liver transplantation carcinoma, vivo anti-cancer its clinical effectiveness need further investigation.