Abstract
Platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Platycodonis radix, possesses anti-cancer effects in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate its anti- cancer activities in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. MTT and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, along with flow cytometry and Western blotting for apoptosis. Cell adhesion was tested by observing cellular morphology under a microscope, while the transwell assay was employed to investigate the cell migration and invasion. PD concentration-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and significantly suppressed colony formation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The protein levels of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Bax were up-regulated while that of survivin was down-regulated after treatment with PD. Moreover, PD not only obviously suppressed the adhesion of HepG2 cells to Matrigel, but also remarkably depressed their migration and invasion induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). PD presents anti-cancer potential in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting cell adhesion, migration and invasion, indicating promising features as a lead compound for anti-cancer agent development.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common and most aggressive cancers worldwide and a leading cause of cancer deaths in China (Chen et al, 2013)
Formation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. (A, B) HepG2 (A) and Hep3B (B) cells were treated with indicated concentrations of Platycodin D (PD) for 48 h and the cell proliferative inhibition was tested by MTT assay. (C) HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of PD for 24 h
Together with the data obtained from flow cytometry with Propidium iodide (PI) staining and western blot assay, PD induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the up-regulation of Bax and downregulation of survivin, at least in part, may contribute to the initial of apoptosis
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common and most aggressive cancers worldwide and a leading cause of cancer deaths in China (Chen et al, 2013). Sorafenib only prolongs patients’ median survival time by less than 3 months and many patients have to reduce their dosage or discontinue the drug therapy due to its side effects (Llovet et al, 2008; Cheng et al, 2009). Efficient drugs for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are still urgently needed especially for those who are unable to process surgical resection or transplantation. PD obviously suppressed the adhesion of HepG2 cells to Matrigel, and remarkably depressed their migration and invasion induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Conclusions: PD presents anti-cancer potential in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting cell adhesion, migration and invasion, indicating promising features as a lead compound for anti-cancer agent development
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