Effects of Triptolide on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Hepatocytes

Objective:To study the effects of triptolide on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocytes(L-02 cells),providing experimental basis for the clinical application of triptolide in treatment of liver diseases and the prevention of its liver toxicity.Method: Culture L-02 cells in vitro and treat the L-02 cells with 10,30,50 nmol·L-1 triptolide respectively for 48 h.Detect the cellular growth and proliferation using trypan blue staining and Brdu incorporation,detect cell cycle distribution using PI staining,detect the percentage of cellular apoptosis using AV/PI double staining,detect the expression levels of p21 and p53 using western blot analysis.Result: Compared with the control,after treated with 10,30,50 nmol · L-1 triptolide,the cell number was reduced from(2.72±1.14)×105 cells/mL to(1.95±0.38)×105,(1.44±0.44)×105,(6.97±0.47)×104 cells/mL respectively;the percentage of Brdu positive cells was reduced from(7.67±0.51)% to(5.67±0.29)%,(4.05±0.14)%,(2.51±0.15)% respectively;the percentage of cells arrested in G1 stage was increased from 65.39% to 68.47%,71.19%,83.98% respectively;the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased from(20.54±1.44)% to(28.02±0.93)%,(36.79±0.49)%,(43.35±1.12)% respectively;the expression level of p21 and p53 protein were both up-regulated,and showed a dose-effect relationship.Conclusion: Triptolide could inhibit L-02 cells proliferation through up-regulation of p21 expression thus arresting cells in G1 stage,and induce cellular apoptosis through up-regulation of p53 expression in L-02 cells.