Study on the Mechanism of Ethanol_induced Inhibition of Hepatocyte Proliferation

Objective To further clarify the mechanism of the effects of ethanol on hepatocy proliferation, dedifferentiation, cell cycle and apoptosis. Methods A human hepatoma cell line,SMMC_7721, was used in this study.Cell proliferation,cell spreading,cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed in cells exposed to 25～200mmol/L ethanol. Results Ethanol inhibited hepatocyte proliferation in a dose dependent manner.Cell spreading after culture was markedly delayed by ethanol at the concentrations above 25 mmol/L.After 2 h_treatment,the average cell area of cells cultured in the presence of 200mmol/L ethanol decreased to 22% of that in controls.Moreover,cells arrested at G0/G1 phase significantly increased after ethanol treatment.Ethanol also induced apoptosis of SMMC_7721 cells as shown by flow cytometry and observation under fluorescence microscope. Conclusion These results suggested that ethanol might cause a delay in cell dedifferentiation and disturb the normal process of hepatocyte proliferation.