ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of capsaicin on proliferation in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and its possible molecular mechanism. Method: Capsaicin (50,100,150,200,250,300 μmol·L-1) groups and blank group were set up. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay after SMMC-7721 cells were treated with capsaicin (50,100,150,200,250,300 μmol·L-1) for 24, 48, 72 h. The morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope after SMMC-7721 cells were treated with capsaicin (150,200,250 μmol·L-1) for 24 h. The mRNA expression levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were measured by Real-time PCR after SMMC-7721 cells were treated with capsaicin (150,200,250 μmol·L-1) for 24 h. The levels of HMGB1 and IL-6 in cell culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) after SMMC-7721 cells were treated with capsaicin (150,200,250 μmol·L-1) for 24 h. Result: Compared with the blank group, there was no significant difference between 50 and 100 μmol·L-1 capsaicin groups treated for 24, 48, 72 h; after treated with the other concentrations of capsaicin (150, 200, 250, 300 μmo·L-1) at different time points, the proliferation inhibition rate was statistically significant (P-1) groups showed different degrees of morphological changes in SMMC-7721 cells, which became round and wrinkled, with a poor attachment and more exfoliation; compared with the blank group, the mRNA expressions of HMGB1 and IL-6 in SMMC-7721 cells of capsaicin (150, 200, 250 μmol·L-1) groups were significantly down-regulated (PPConclusion: Capsaicin inhibits cell proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells, and the possible mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of HMGB1 and IL-6 at the mRNA and protein levels.