摘要
BACKGROUND: The effect of tacrolimus (FK506) and 5- fluorouracil (5-FU) on hepatocellular carcinoma remains elusive. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ta- crolimus on the proliferation, and apoptosis in liver cancer cell line of SMMC-7721 and its sensitivity to fluorouracil (5- FU). METHODS: The liver cancer cell line of SMMC-7721 was cultured in vitro, and the MTT assay was used to examine the antiproliferative effect of FK506. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to examine the effect of 5-FU alone or in combination with FK506 on the apoptosis and cell cycle of SMMC-7721 cells. RESULTS: FK506 produced concentration-dependent anti- proliferative effect on SMMC-7721 cells at all experimental concentrations(P <0.05), but no effect on induction of apo- ptosis. 5-FU induced apoptosis in a concentration-depen- dent manner, whereas the percentage of G0/G1-phase cells and proliferation index (PI) were increased with the in- creased concentration of 5-FU. Pretreatment with FK506 for 2 hours enhanced the effect of 5-FU on the induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: FK506 inhibits the growth of SMMC-7721 cells and enhances their sensitivity to 5-FU. This may be as- sociated with the synergic effect of FK506 and 5-FU in in- ducing apoptosis and G0/G1-phase stasis.
BACKGROUND: The effect of tacrolimus (FK506) and 5- fluorouracil (5-FU) on hepatocellular carcinoma remains elusive. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ta- crolimus on the proliferation, and apoptosis in liver cancer cell line of SMMC-7721 and its sensitivity to fluorouracil (5- FU). METHODS: The liver cancer cell line of SMMC-7721 was cultured in vitro, and the MTT assay was used to examine the antiproliferative effect of FK506. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to examine the effect of 5-FU alone or in combination with FK506 on the apoptosis and cell cycle of SMMC-7721 cells. RESULTS: FK506 produced concentration-dependent anti- proliferative effect on SMMC-7721 cells at all experimental concentrations(P <0.05), but no effect on induction of apo- ptosis. 5-FU induced apoptosis in a concentration-depen- dent manner, whereas the percentage of G0/G1-phase cells and proliferation index (PI) were increased with the in- creased concentration of 5-FU. Pretreatment with FK506 for 2 hours enhanced the effect of 5-FU on the induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: FK506 inhibits the growth of SMMC-7721 cells and enhances their sensitivity to 5-FU. This may be as- sociated with the synergic effect of FK506 and 5-FU in in- ducing apoptosis and G0/G1-phase stasis.
