Ponicidin inhibits cell growth on hepatocellular carcinoma cells by induction of apoptosis

Background and aim: Ponicidin is recently reported to have anti-tumour effects on a large variety of cancers. The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-proliferation effects of ponicidin on hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its mechanism.

Methods: Two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, QGY-7701 and HepG-2 cells, were used. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation analysis. Cell morphology was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to detect Survivin as well as Bax and Bcl-2 expressions.

Results: Ponicidin could inhibit the growth of QGY-7701 and HepG-2 cells significantly by induction of Apoptosis. Marked morphological changes of Apoptosis were observed clearly. Both Survivin and Bcl-2 expressions were down-regulated remarkably while Bax expression up-regulated when Apoptosis occurred.

Conclusions: Ponicidin has significant anti-proliferation effects by inducing Apoptosis on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro, down regulation of Survivin and Bcl-2 as well as upregualation of Bax expressions may be the important apoptotic inducing mechanisms.