Original Article
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World J Hepatol. Aug 27, 2010; 2(8): 311-317
Published online Aug 27, 2010. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v2.i8.311
Effect of mycophenolate mofetil plus adriamycin on HepG-2 cells
Yan-Kui Chu, Yi Liu, Ji-Kai Yin, Nan Wang, Liang Cai, Jian-Guo Lu
Yan-Kui Chu, Yi Liu, Ji-Kai Yin, Nan Wang, Liang Cai, Jian-Guo Lu, Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Chu YK and Liu Y designed the study and performed the majority of experiments; Yin JK and Wang N provided vital reagents and analytical tools and participated in part of the experiments; Cai L is responsible for writing the manuscript; and Lu JG providing financial support for this work and guided the progress of the experiments.
Supported by the Science and Technique Foundation of Shaanxi Province, No. 2005K09-G12
Correspondence to: Jian-Guo Lu, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China. cyklwbbbbb@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-13700238358 Fax: +86-29-84778265
Received: February 23, 2010
Revised: August 12, 2010
Accepted: August 17, 2010
Published online: August 27, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the influence of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) plus adriamycin (ADM) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

METHODS: HCC cells were treated with 100 μg/ml of MMF alone (MMF group), 1 μg/mL of adriamycin (ADM group) alone, or a combination of the drugs (MMF + ADM group). We performed an 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to measure the growth inhibition rate of HCC cells. Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of cells in different phases of the cell cycle and the number of apoptotic cells. Hoechst 33258 staining revealed the morphological changes associated with apoptosis in HCC cells.

RESULTS: The results of MTT assays revealed that monotherapy with ADM or MMF showed inhibition of cell growth, while MMF + ADM therapy afforded an inhibition rate of more than 90% with cell distribution in G1 and G2/M phase greater than that in S phase. MMF + ADM treatment also downregulated Bcl-2 expression markedly. The growth of HCC cells was markedly inhibited and apoptosis was enhanced in all the 3 groups. Compared with other 2 groups, the MMF + ADM group showed more obvious apoptosis of cells.

CONCLUSION: The MMF plus ADM combination exerts remarkable inhibitory effects on the growth of HCC cells.

Keywords: Mycophenolate mofetil; Adriamycin; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Cell cycle; Apoptosis