Effect of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand on the biological activity of hepatocarcinoma cell line / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To explore the effect of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), a new apoptotic inducing molecule on the biological activity of hepatocarcinoma cell line. METHODS: The expression of membrane binding TRAIL on HepG2 cells was detected by immuno-cytochemistry. Quantity of secretory TRAIL was assayed by ELISA method. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by TRAIL was detected by MTT and TUNEL method, respectively. The telomerase activity of HepG2 cells was detected by TRAP-PCR assay kit. The expression of hTERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, was detected by FCM. RESULTS: TRAIL was constitutively expressed on the membrane of HepG2 cell line. Soluble TRAIL was also expressed to a certain degree. Cytotoxicity assay showed that TRAIL significantly inhibited the growth of hepatocarcinoma cells. TUNEL assay indicated that TRAIL induced apoptosis in hepatocarcinoma cells. Detection of telomerase activity showed that TRAIL inhibited telomerase activity and the expression of telomerase catalytic subunit. CONCLUSION: TRAIL is an effective molecule to inhibit the growth of hepatocarcinoma through multiple pathways, such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the activity of telomerase.