Abstract
Retinoids can block cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The antitumoral effect of synthetic retinoids like Adapalene (ADA) on hepatoma cells (HepG2, Hep1B) was investigated. Cell proliferation was assessed by measuring DNA synthesis and apoptosis by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Cell cycle- and apoptosis-associated proteins were semi-quantified by Western Blotting and breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potentials was detected by JC-1 staining. ADA at 10(-4)M efficiently induced apoptosis, reaching 61.7% in HepG2 and 79.1% in Hep1B after 72 h incubation. This was accompanied by up-regulation of pro-apoptotic bax and caspase 3, while bcl-2 was down-regulated, shifting the bax/bcl-2 ratio to >2.3 in hepatoma cells. ADA inhibits hepatoma cell growth in vitro and is a powerful inducer of hepatoma cell apoptosis.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adapalene
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Apoptosis / drug effects*
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Blotting, Western
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
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Caspase 3
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Caspases / metabolism
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Cell Cycle / drug effects*
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Flow Cytometry
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Humans
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Immunoenzyme Techniques
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Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Liver Neoplasms / pathology
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Membrane Potentials / drug effects
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Mitochondria / drug effects
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Mitochondria / metabolism
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Naphthalenes / pharmacology*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology
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Tretinoin / pharmacology
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
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Antineoplastic Agents
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BAX protein, human
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Naphthalenes
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein
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Adapalene
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Tretinoin
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CASP3 protein, human
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Caspase 3
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Caspases