Role of transfection of FHIT gene in human hepatocellular carci noma cell line HepG2

AIM: To study the role of transfection of FHIT gene into a human liver cancer cell line HepG2. METHODS: FHIT gene was transfected into human liver cancer cell line HepG2 by lipofectamine. After selection with G418, resistant colonies were obtained. The over-expression of FHIT was detected by immunochemistry and Western blotting methods. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The morphological changes were observed by light and electron microscope. RESULTS: Stable expression of FHIT protein in transfected HepG2 cells was obtained and the growth rate of these transfected HepG2 was inhibited. Early apoptosis was observed under transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry showed that the progression of cell cycle was arrested from S phase to G2 phase. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that FHIT gene can inhibit the growth and proliferation of HepG2 by inducing its apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro.