Effect of NS-398 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cell line

Objective To investigate the effects of NS-398,an cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor,on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells.Methods The proliferation of cells was detected by MTT assay.The cell cycle and apoptosis associated with bcl-2 were detected by flow cytometry.Results NS-398 inhibited the proliferation of human HepG2 cells at a dose-dependent manner.When interfered with NS-398 at a dose of 20,40,80 and 160μmol/L for 48h,the inhibiting rates were 6.72%,16.21%,20.86% and 25.34%,respectively;and when interfered with 160μmol/L NS-398 for 24h,48h and 72h,the cells of G0/G1 from 76.07 ± 0.75% reduced to 62.27 ± 0.74%,59.17 ± 1.47% and 53.03 ± 1.60%,respectively(P 0.05);the cells of S stage from 11.40±0.79% increased to 13.23±0.81%,16.20±1.95% and 16.60±1.25%,respectively(P0.05).The cell of G2/M stage was not markedly changed;The apoptotic cells increased with the apoptosis rates of 8.47%,16.3% and 23.9%,respectively.The expression of bcl-2 decreased obviously as compared with control group(P0.01).Conclusion NS-398 can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2,which might be related to the down regulated expression of bcl-2.