Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis Induction in Human Hepatoma Cells by Tanshinone IIA

Summary: In order to study the effect of tanshinone Ⅱ A on growth and apoptosis in human hepatomacell line BEL-7402 in vitro, the human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 was treated with tanshinone Ⅱ Aat various concentrations for 72 h. Growth suppression was evaluated by MTT assay; apoptosis-relat-ed alterations in morphology and biochemistry were ascertained under cytochemical staining (Hoechst33258), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Apoptoticrate was quantified by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that Tanshinone ⅡA could inhibitthe growth of hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value being 6.28μg/ml. Aftertreatment with 1-10μg/ml tanshinone Ⅱ A for 72 h, BEL-7402 cells apoptosis with nuclear cbro-matin condensation and fragmentation as well as cell shrinkage and the formation of apoptotic bodieswere observed. DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis. FCM analysis showedhypodiploid peaks on histogram, and the apoptotic rates at 5 μg/ml concentration for 12 h, 24 h, 36h, 48 h and 72 h were (2.32±0.16) %, (3.01±0.35) %, (3.87±0. 43) %, (6.73±0. 58) %and (20. 85 ±1. 74) % respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the controlgroup (1.07±0. 13) %. It is concluded that Tanshinone ⅡA^ could induce human hepatoma cell lineBEL-7402 apoptosis, which may be related to the mechanism of growth inhibition.