| Objective To study the apoptosis induced by emodin in human hepatoma cell line smmc-7721 and to clarify its molecular mechanism. Methods The growth inhibitory effect of emodin on human hepatoma cell line smmc-7721 was observed by using MTT assay, cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, fluorescent microscopy and optical microscopy. The protein expressions of p53 and p21 affected by emodin were determined by Western blot, and Fas by immunocytochemistry. Results Emodin significantly inhibited cell growth of human hepatoma cell line smmc-7721 with IC50 value(48h) of (49.6 ± 0.03)μmol/L. Typical morphological changes could be observed by using normal microscope and fluorescent microscope after treatment with emodin, including nuclear chromatin condensation, fragmentation, cell shrinkage, and formation of apoptosis bodies. After incubated with emodin, DNA ladder appeared on the agarose gel, and a typical subdiploid peak before phase G0/G1 was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis rates of smmc-7721 cells treated with 20, 40, 60μmol/L emodin were (6.67 ± 0.27)%, (14.81 ±0.86)%, (29.72 ± 2.23)%,respectively, significantly higher than those of the control group (0.21 ±0.08)%CP<0.05). The rates of apoptosis were correlated with the concentrationof emodin. Smmc-7721 cells were blocked at phase G2/M, which wascorrelated with the concentration of emodin. The expression levels of p53, p21and Fas had changed remarkably after treatment with emodin.Conclusion Taken together, the apoptosis in human hepatoma cell linesmmc-7721 could be induced by emodin in this study, the molecularmechanism of apoptosis may be p53-dependent, that is relative to p53 and p21.Furthermore, Fas may also play important role involving the procession ofapoptosis.
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