[Effects of simvastatin on the proliferation of HepG2 cells].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation, cell cycle and expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells in vitro.

METHODS:

HepG2 cells were administrated with simvastatin. Proliferation of the cells was detected by MTT assay, cell cycle was measured by flowcytometry and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein expression was detected by immunocytochemistry. The results were evaluated by factorial design and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS:

Simvastatin inhibited HepG2 cells growth in vitro (F(concentration) = 1264, P value less than 0.001; F(time) = 17.466, P value less than 0.001; F(concentration*time) = 35.053, P value less than 0.001) and could arrest HepG2 cells in G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. However, apoptosis of HepG2 cells was not obvious. Simvastatin could also increase cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein expression (F = 512.133, P value less than 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Simvastatin can inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro, which may be explained by its effects of enhancing cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 protein expression and arresting HepG2 cells at G0/G1 phase of cell cycle.

• Authors: Wei Liu, Lian-feng Zhang, Yu-heng Zhang
• Journal: Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology (Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi) Vol. 18 Issue 10 Pg. 751-3 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1007-3418 [Print] China
• PMID: 21059291 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CDKN1A protein, human
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
• Simvastatin

Topics

• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 (metabolism)
• Hep G2 Cells
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Simvastatin (pharmacology)