Effect of plasma from patients with severe hepatitis on growth and detoxification of HepG2 cells

Objective To investigate the effect of plasma from severe hepatitis patients (SHP) on the growth and detoxification of HepG2 cells. Methods HepG2 cells were recovered and cultured in SHP of different concentration. Total protein, the leakage of LDH, the morphologic changes, cell cycles, glutathione of HepG2 cells were investigated. Results The synthesis of total protein was inhibited (F=46.852, P0.01)in 100% SHP group. Exposed to SHP for 24 h, LDH leakage of HepG2 cells was approximately onefold higher than that of controls and the cell morphology turned to be thin and sparse. The percentage of cells at S phase was significantly increased on day 1 (F=92.239, P0.01). Exposure of HepG2 cells to SHP resulted in an increase (F=10.097, P0.01) in the GSH content within 24 h as compared to that of controls. On day 3, the GSH level declined to below the levels of controls. The statistical difference of GSH in differentconcentration SHP groups was significant (F=8.097, P0.05). Conclusion SHP inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells, increases the detoxification in 24 h but declines after 3 days.