Resveratrol arrests cell cycle and induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma Huh-7 cells

J Med Food. 2010 Dec;13(6):1415-23. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.1126. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

Resveratrol has been shown to possess anticancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative properties of resveratrol and its molecular mechanism(s) of action in Huh-7 cells, a new human hepatoma cell line system for hepatitis C virus. Results showed that resveratrol significantly inhibited Huh-7 cell proliferation (50% inhibitory concentration = 22.4 μg/mL) and effectively induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. It up-regulated p21/WAF1 expression in a p53-independent manner, but the expressions of cyclin E, cyclin A, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 were down-regulated. It also caused an increase in the ratio of pro-apoptotic/anti-apoptotic protein, which was associated with the mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the increase in caspase activity. Resveratrol showed no effect on Fas, Fas ligand, extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and p38 expression but down-regulated phospho-ERK and phospho-p38 expression. In addition, resveratrol was noted to trigger autophagic cell death through the increased expression of autophagy-related Atg5, Atg7, Atg9, and Atg12 proteins. These results suggest that resveratrol could be an important chemoprevention agent for hepatoma of hepatitis C virus infection.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Resveratrol
  • S Phase / drug effects
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • Stilbenes
  • CDK2 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2
  • Resveratrol