Effects of remifentanil on the proliferation and apoptosis of human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2 in vitro

Objective To evaluate the effects of remifentanil on the proliferation,the cell cycle and apoptosis of human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2 in vitro.Methods Human liver carcinoma cells HepG2 were cultured in vitro.The HepG2 cells of the test group were incubated in the RPMI-1640 medium with remifentanil at different concentration(0.001,0.01,0.1,1,10,100,200 μmol/L).The HepG2 cells of the control group were incubated in the RPMI-1640 medium for 48 hours.The level of the cell proliferation was evaluated with methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method.The cell cycle was detected with flow cytometry (FCM).The morphological change of apoptosis cell was observed by fluorescence microscopy after staining by Hoechst33258.Results Remifentanil inhibited the proliferation of the HepG2 cells with a dose-dependent effect.Compared with control group,the cell proliferation capability was apparently decreased in the test group (P ＜ 0.05) when the concentration of remifentanil was over 1 μmol/L (P ＜0.05).However,no significant difference in cell proliferation was found when remifentanil was 100 and 200 μmol/ L.The ratio of G0/G1 phase of HepG2 cells was significantly enhanced and the ratio of S phase of HepG2 cells was significantly decreased when remifentanil was over 1 μmol/L.The fluorescent microscopy stained by the Hoechst33258 showed part of HcpG2 cells apoptosis in test group,and the apoptotic rate was significantly increased when remifentanil was over 1 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The data suggest that remifentanil would inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and induce apoptosis when remifentanil was over 1 μmol/L. Key words: Fentanyl/pharmacology; Liver neoplasms/pathology; Tumor cells, cultured; Cell proliferation; Apoptosis