The research of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in combination with sodium butyrate on hepatoma cell HepG2

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) combined with sodium butyrate (NaB) on hepatic carcinoma cell line HepG-2.Methods different concentrations of NaB( 1.0,2.5,5.0 mmol/L)and TRAIL ( 10,100,500,1000ng/ml) solely or combined with both added to the culture plates including HepG-2 suspension,inhibitory action of NaB and TRAIL on HepG-2 were Measured by MTT assays; The apoptotic rate of HepG-2 cells and the mRNA expressions of DR4 ,DR5 in HepG-2 cells were respectively detected by flow cytometry analysis and Real-time RT-PCR.Results By using different concentrations of TRAIL,the inhibitory rate of HepG-2 growth and HepG-2 apoptotic rate were ( 4.5 ± 1.3 ) % and 3.2 ± 0.7 ) % respectively,compared with control group,the differences were not significant statistically ( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth of HepG-2 by NaB ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The combination of the NaB and TRAIL can significantly increase the inhibitory rate of HepG-2 growth and HepG-2 apoptotic rate ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Expression level of DR5 mRNA of HepG-2 deal with NaB were higher than control group.Conclusion HepG-2 cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by TRAIL,NaB could enhance the sensitivity of Hep-2 cells to TRAIL by up-regulating the mRNA expressions of DR5 in HepG-2 cells. Key words: Apoptosis;  TRAIL;  Hepatoma;  Sodium butyrate