Palmitic acid induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells.
- Author:
Li ZHANG
1
;
Jun JI
;
Xiao-Yu ZHU
;
Yuan-Yuan WU
;
Huan YU
;
Bin ZHANG
;
Xue-Ling LI
;
Xi-Zhuo SUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Apoptosis; drug effects; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; metabolism; pathology; Cell Cycle; drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; drug effects; Cell Survival; drug effects; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; metabolism; pathology; Palmitic Acid; pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; metabolism; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; metabolism
- From: Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2004;26(6):671-676
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of palmitic acid (PA) on human hepatocytes and its mechanism.
METHODSWe 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.
RESULTSAn 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.
CONCLUSIONPA may induce cell death on hepatocytes via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by reducing the level of Bcl-2/Bax.
