AIMTo investigate the effect of triptolide on proliferation of PC12 cells and the mechanism involved in the effect, and provide evidence for clinical use of triptolide in treatment of tumor.

METHODSBy means of morphological observation, MTT assay, flow cytometry (FCM) and RT-PCR, the effect of triptolide on the proliferation of PC12 cells was observed in vitro.

RESULTSThe proliferation inhibition was found on PC12 cells incubated with triptolide (5 x 10(3) or 25 x 10(3) g/L) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, and with the higher concentration of triptolide, the inhibition was stronger. Low concentration of triptolide (1 x 10(3) g/L) showed no significant effect on proliferation of PC12 cells. After treatment of PC12 cells with triptolide (5 x 10(3) g/L) for 24 h, increased percentage of G0-G1 phase and decreased percentage of S phase were found. Expression of translational elongation factor 2A3-2 was reduced after treatment of PC12 cells with triptolide (5 x 10(3) g/L). The expression of 2A3-2 was weaker in PC12 cells treated with triptolide for 48 h than for 24 h.

CONCLUSIONTriptolide inhibits the proliferation of PC12 cells. The inhibition may be realized by changing the expression of 2A3-2 and preventing the transition from G0-G1 phase to S phase.