Effect of Taiwanese traditional remedy on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

• Main Authors: Chao-Jung Wu, 吳昭瑢
• Other Authors: Chun-Li Su
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/39762251309909789539

碩士 === 長榮大學 === 醫學研究所碩士班護理組 === 93 === Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Infection with hepatitis B virus increases HCC risk and causes cancer-related death. Although a wide range of conventional western therapeutic options is available, the efficacy of these methods and the prognosis of patients with HCC remain limited. To discover new agents which could treat cancer safely and effectively becomes important. SC-1 is the aqueous phase of soaked soybeans fermented with B. subtilis and B. brevis. It has been traditional use in Taiwan for anti-inflammatory and antitumor including treating patients with HCC. Due to lack of experimental research to elucidate the action mechanism of SC-1, the present study was carried out to determine the cytotoxicity of SC-1. The molecular event in human HCC Hep3B cells treated with SC-1 was also characterized. The experimental data revealed that SC-1 effectively inhibited the growth and colony formation of Hep 3B cells with an IC50 value (50% cell growth inhibitory concentration) of 25-fold and 27-fold dilution of SC-1 at day 5 and day 14 of post-treatment respectively. Induction of apoptosis was observed in SC-1-treated cells characterizing by fragmentation of DNA, increase of sub-G1 content and change in nuclear morphology. Activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3 was observed in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. The levels of nuclear cleavage form of PARP and nuclear expression of DFF40 were elevated. Translocation of tBid, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO from mitochondrial intermembrane space to cytosol was detected. SC-1 also decreased the mitochondrial expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and increased the mitochondrial expression of Bak and Bax. These phenamena may further promoted the process of apoptosis. Based on the results of the study, SC-1 may have the potential to serve as a chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agent for HCC prevention.