The Pro-apoptosis Effect Of P75ntr On Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

AimsTo detect the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor p75NTR, TrkA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate the effect and the mechanism of p75NTR on the apoptosis of HCC cell line.MethodsCancerous samples and theirs correpongding para-cancerous samples were obtained from 26 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of NGF in HCC tissues, para-carcerous liver tissues, HCC cell lines HepG2 and normal hepatic cell line L02 were examined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The full-length p75NTR expression plasmid and mutated p75NTR plasmids were transfected into HCC cell line HepG2 by lipofectamineTM2000. The expression was determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometery.ResultsThe expression of NGF was elevated in HCC tissues and HCC cell line HepG2 (p<0.05). The apoptosis rate of the HepG2 cell transfected with p75NTR expression was increased (25.32%±3.63% vs 2.96%±0.801%; 3.18%±0.677%, p<0.05), but the apoptosis of the cell transfected with potential G protein activation domain mutated p75NTR plasmid was not increased (3.82%±0.613% vs 2.96%±0.801%; 3.18%±0.677%, p>0.05).ConclusionOur data indicate that elevated expression of NGF may contribute to the progression of HCC. Its receptor p75NTR could promote the apoptosis of HepG2, and potential G protein activation domain was necessary for pro-apoptosis effect of p75NTR. These results suggest that p75NTR may be an effective target for gene therapy.