Antiangiogenesis agent bevacizumab blocks the promoting effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effect of bevacizumab on the proliferation of human heptoma cell line HepG2. Methods: The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs) in HepG2 cells were examined by immunocytochemical staining and RT-PCR; ELISA was used to determine the level of VEGF in culture supernatants of HepG2 cells. The proliferation of HepG2 cells was analyzed by MTT assay after treatment with rh VEGF and bevacizumab separately; the expression of VEGF was examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: VEGF and VEGFRs (Flt-1 and KDR) were expressed in human HepG2 cells. rhVEGF increased the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner within a concentration range of 0-100 ng/ml; bevacizumab inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells; the inhibition rates were (8.76% ± 1.15)%, (26.83 ± 1.20)%, (31.87 ± 1.30)% and (28.20 ± 1.28)%, when the concentrations of bevacizumab were 0. 1, 1, 10,and 20 μg/ml,respectively. Expression of VEGF in the HepG2 cells was increased by rhVEGF and inhibited by bevacizumab. Conclusion: Bevacizumab might inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells through blocking the effect of VEGF.