Docosahexaenoic Acid On Liver Cancer Cell Growth Inhibition And Induction Of Apoptosis Effects And Mechanism

Objective:To investigate the effects of promoting apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation by docosahexaenoic acid at different concentrations on the human hepatocelluar carcinoma HepG2and SMCC-1171cells, and to observe the possible molecude mechanism, thus to provide the experimental data and theoretical knowledge for prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:DHA which concentration is0μg/mL was served as negative control, set the concentration of15,30,45,60,75μg/mL experimental group. The human hepatocelluar carcinoma HepG2and SMCC-1171cells were cultured in vitro which was treated by DHA at different concentration.The relative growth inhibition rate of HepG2and SMCC-1171cells was detected by the CCK-8method. Flow cytometry assays were applied to observe the rate of HepG2and SMCC-1171cells apoptosis. The levels of β-catenin and c-myc mRNA and protein were measured respectively by real-time PCR and Western blot after different concentrations of DHA.Results:In the concentration range from0to45, the action time is24hours. DHA can inhibit the growth of HepG2and SMCC-1171cells in vitro, and significant difference of the cell absorbance (A value) between the experimental group and the control group was observed (P<0.01). There was significant difference between each two groups in the experimental group. If drug concentration or action time was increased, the result showed no statistically significant differences. Flow cytometric analysis indicated DHA can promote the apoptosis of HepG2and SMCC-1171cells. there was significant difference of the apoptosis rate between the experimental group and the control group (P<0.01). and significant difference between each two groups in the experimental group was observed. Real-time per detected low levels of c-myc expression at HepG2and SMCC-1171cells which was treated by DHA, and a significant difference of the c-myc expression between the experimental group and the control group were observed (P<0.01) and there was significant difference between each two groups in the experimental group. There was no significant difference of the β-catenin relative expression between the experimental group and the control group and the experimental group. Western blot demonstrated that DHA could decrease the proteins expression of P-catenin and c-myc in HepG2and SMCC-1171cells (P<0.05).Conclusion:DHA can promot apoptosis and inhibit proliferation on HepG2and SMCC-1171cells,The possible mechanism is related with down regulating the proteins expression of β-catenin and the mRNA expression of c-myc.