Effect of Naringenin on apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transition of human high-invasive hepatoma cell line MHCC97-H

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of Naringenin (Nar) on apoptosis, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), of human high-invasive hepatoma cell line MHCC97-H and related molecular mechanisms. Methods MHCC97-H cells were routinely cultured. MTT assay was used to test the effect of Nar on viability of MHCC97-H cells treated with different doses of 0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 μmol/L. Flow cytometry (FCM) was applied to assess the apoptosis rate of MHCC97-H cells treated with Nar. Wound assay and Transwell invasive assay were utilized to assess the EMT of MHCC97-H cells treated with Nar. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were applied to detect the expression of associated mRNA and proteins with apoptosis and EMT. Results Results of MTT assay showed that decreased cell activity was induced by Nar in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment with 0, 40, 80, 160, 320 μmol/L Nar for 24 h, cell activity was (96.49±13.28)%, (73.65±8.93)%, (60.75±15.75)%, (37.31±7.77)%, and (33.20±10.00)% respectively (F=31.028, P=0.000). After treatment with Nar, apoptosis rate of MHCC97-H cells was increased significantly (t=8.368, P=0.000). Migration and invasion of MHCC97-H cells were decreased after Nar treatment (t=2.964, P=0.014; t=8.899, P=0.000). Results of qPCR and Western blotting demonstrated that associated mRNA and proteins varied after Nar treatment. Conclusion Nar could induce apoptosis and inhibit EMT of MHCC97-H cells. Key words: Liver cancer; Naringenin; Apoptosis; Epithelial mesenchymal transition