Potentiation of Human Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells to TRAIL-induced Apoptosis by Apigenin

Objective To investigate whether apigenin(API) enhances apoptosis induced by recombinant human soluble TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) in human cervical cancer HeLa cell line.Methods Human cervical cancer HeLa cells were cultured in vitro.The percentage of the sub-G1 population was determined by flow cytometry after PI fluorescence staining.The characteristic features of cell apoptosis was examined using DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.Results Flow cytometry analysis after PI staining indicated that the percentage of the sub-G1 cell population in human cervical cancer HeLa cells by treatment with API(20μmol/ L) or TRAIL(20ng/mL) alone,and with combination for 48h were 3.56%±0.20%,6.69%±0.40%,and 59.8%± 4.20%.The ladder band could be shown in DNA agarose gel electrophoresis after co-treatment with TRAIL(20ng/ mL) and API(20μmol/L).Conclusion API possesses the effect of the enhancement of HeLa cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis.