Palmitic acid induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of palmitic acid (PA) on human hepatocytes and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We administered a mimic hyperlipidemia condition of 0.2-0.4 mmol/L PA to human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells. Cell viability was determined by Trypan blue staining. Cell cycle and early apoptosis were determined by propidium iodide and/or Annexin V staining, and the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An inhibition of cell growth was observed at a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cells after the treatment of PA. An apoptosis with appearance of sub-G1 fraction determined by cell cycle analysis significantly increased after the treatment of PA for 4 days. Bcl-2 level slightly decreased; in contrast, Bax level elevated markedly, which resulted in a significant decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PA may induce cell death on hepatocytes via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by reducing the level of Bcl-2/Bax.</p>