Effect and mechanical study of CD437 on apoptosis of human HepG2 cells

Objective To investigate the effect of CD437 on apoptosis of human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 and the possible role of CD437 on mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMP). Meth-ods The effect of CD437 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells was evaluated with MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed after HepG2 cells were labeled with Annexin V-FITC/PI double fluores-cence. Mitochondrial membrane stained with Rhodamine 123 probes was detected under fluorescent microscope and the changes of MMP were analyzed with flow cytometry. Results After incubated with 1μmol/L of CD437 for 24 hours, both the earlier and later apoptotic rates of HepG2 cells in the exper-imental group increased significantly compared to those in the control group. The fluorescent intensity detected with flow cytometry in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (5. 34 ± 0. 12 vs 4. 40 ± 0. 09, P<0. 05). The left peak-shift and decreased MMP were noted in the experimental group. Under the fluorescent microscope, fluorescence of HepG2 stained with Rho-damine 123 probes disappeared after incubated with CD437. Conclusions CD437 can significantly in-hibit the growth of HepG2 and induce the apoptosis by decreasing MMP. Key words: Liver neoplasms; CD437;  Apoptosis