ABSTRACT
AIM: To examine the effects of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor(rhHGF) and native calf HGF(cHGF) on SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cell line. METHODS: Human HCC cell line culture, photometric assay, and flow cytometric assay were used in this study . RESULTS: A similar type of dose-dependent cell growth inhibition effect on SMMC-7721 human HCC cells by rhHGF(5-20 ?g/L) as well as by cHGF(25-100 mg/L) had been found, with the maximal effect at the highest concentration used. Approximately over 50% of the cells treated with rhHGF(5 ?g/L, 10 ?g/L, 20 ?g/L) accumulated in the quiescent G 0/G 1 phase of the cell cycle over incubation periods for 3 d. CONCLUSION: The growth of SMMC-7721 human HCC cells was strongly inhibited by both rhHGF and cHGF. This might be because the cells exposed to HGF became arrested in the G 0/G 1 phase.