ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the effect and the mechanism of sulphated heparin on the proliferation and the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG-2) was used to identify the expression of ras gene protein and to study the effect of sulphated heparin on proliferation and the apoptosis in vitro . RESULTS: The sulphated heparin downregulated the ras protein expression and inhibited the cell growth in HepG2 cells. In the presence of sulphated heparin, the apoptosis rate of HepG2 increased. CONCLUSION:The data suggest that the effects of sulphated heparin on the proliferation and the apoptosis of the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell are correlated with the signaling transduction mediated by ras gene protein.