Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC-97H, and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods Apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC-97H was induced by serum free culture fluid, and MHCC-97H cells were then cultured with 0 μg/L rhGH (GH0 group), 5 μg/L rhGH (GH5 group), 25 μg/L rhGH (GH25 group), 50 μg/L rhGH (GH50 group), 100 μg/L rhGH (GH100 group) and 500 μg/L rhGH (GH500 group), respectively. The growth of MHCC-97H cells was observed by MTT method, cell apoptosis rate, cell cycle and cell proliferation index were determined by flow cytometry, and RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein, respectively. Results Compared with GH0 group, the proliferation of MHCC-97H cells, the percentages of cells in S phase and proliferation indexes significantly increased in GH25 group, GH50 group, GH100 group and GH500 group (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis rates in GH25 group, GH50 group and GH100 group significantly decreased (P<0.05), the expression of Bax mRNA and protein significantly decreased and that of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion rhGH can stimulate the in vitro proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC-97H, the mechanism of which is closely related to the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes.

Key words: recombinant human growth hormone, hepatocellular carcinoma, apoptosis, Bax, Bcl-2