[Establishment of an apoptotic model induced by adriamycin in human hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: Establishment of cell apoptotic model of human hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Human cultured hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCC-9204 was exposed in vitro to different concentrations of adriamycin for various lengths of time. Cell apoptosis was ascertained by cell morphology under transmission electron-microscope, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. RESULTS: When HCC-9204 cells were treated with adriamycin at 20 mumol/L for 3 hr, cell apoptosis occurred. Typical apoptotic bodies appeared and DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis. Apoptotic peak was also shown by flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells accounted for 72.1% of the cell population. Cells in G1, S and G2 phase of cell cycle were 75.9%, 24.1% and 0%, respectively. Only 35.5% of adriamycin treated cells remained alive. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis of human cultured hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HCC-9204 cell line, was successfully induced by adriamycin. Establishment of this model will help further explore the molecular mechanism of hepatoma cell apoptosis.