Study on apoptosis and inhibited growth of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell induced by TanshinonII A and 5-FU

【Objective】To investigate the regulatory effect of Tanshinon ⅡA on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma Hela cells in vitro with 5-FU.【Methods】 Inhibition of cervical carcinoma Hela cell growth by Tanshinon ⅡA and 5-FU was determined by TMM assay and growth curve,and apoptosis was detected by electron microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM).【Results】Tanshinon ⅡA showed dose-dependent and time-de-pendent inhibitory effects on the proliferation in cervical carcinoma Hela cell line.After treatment with TanshinonⅡ A and 5-FU proliferation of Hela cells was significantly inhibited.The cell treated with 8.0 μg/mL Tanshinon ⅡA for 72 hours showed characters of apoptosis under light and electron microscopy.Cell apoptosis occurred character-ized by cell shrinkage.Nuclear chromatin condensation and Fragmentary,formation of membrane blebs and apopto-sis bodies as observed under fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscope.The apoptosis rate quantified of Tanshinon ⅡA 4.0 μg/mL and 8.0 μg/mL 72 h by flow cytometry(FCM) was 34.13%,45.84%.【Con-clusion】Tanshinon ⅡA could significantly inhibit the growth of Hela cells and could induce the apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma Hela cells in vitro,which may antagonize the toxicity of 5-FU markedly by decreasing the 5-FU concentration.