Effects of lycopene on the proliferation and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells / 实用肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate effects of lycopene(LP) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and to explore its mechanism.Methods HepG2 cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with 0,5,10,20 μg/mL of LP and 40 μg/mL of Cisplatin for 48 h.Ten replicates in each dose were designed in this study.After treatments,the cell viability was measured by MTT colorimetric assay.The distribution of cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry(FCM).The mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured by RT-PCR.The expression of Caspase-3 protein was explored by Western blot.Results The inhibition rate of HepG2 cells was significantly increased by 10 μg/mL and 20μ g/mL of LP or 40 μg/mL of cisplatin when compared to the negative control group.The cell cycle of HepG2 cells were arrested at the G0/G1 phase and the apoptosis rate were significantly increased in comparison with the negative control group.The level of Bax mRNA expression was significantly increased and decreased in the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA.They were shown an increasing ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and up-regulated Caspase-3 protein in HepG2 cells treated with LP.All effects in this study show a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion LP can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis in HepG2 cells.This mechanism may be contributed to arresting cell cycle and regulating gene expression related to apoptosis.