Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 15, 2003; 9(9): 2117-2120
Published online Sep 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i9.2117
Inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation
Yun-Feng Piao, Yang Shi, Pu-Jun Gao
Yun-Feng Piao, Yang Shi, Pu-Jun Gao, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yang Shi, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Road, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China. shiyangwhy@163.com
Telephone: +86-431-5612242 Fax: +86-431-5612542
Received: November 14, 2002
Revised: November 23, 2002
Accepted: December 20, 2002
Published online: September 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and to explore the mechanism of its effect.

METHODS: SMMC-7721 cells were divided into two groups, one treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 5 days and the other as a control group. Light microscope and electron microscope were used to observe the morphological changes. Telomerase activity was analyzed with silver-stained telomere repeated assay protocal (TRAP). Expression of Caspase-3 was demonstrated with western blot.

RESULTS: ATRA-treated cells showed differentiation features including small and pyknotic nuclei, densely stained chromatin and fewer microvilli. Besides, ATRA could inhibit the activity of telomerase, promote the expression of Caspase-3 and its activation.

CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity and Caspase-3 expression are changed in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 treated with all-trans retinioc acid. The inhibition of telomerase activity and the activation of Caspase-3 may be the key steps through which ATRA inhibits the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cell line.

Keywords: $[Keywords]