2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-3-methoxychalcone inhibits growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells through up-regulation of p21
Objective To investigate the in vitro antitumor effects of 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-3-methoxychalcone(C20)on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its potential mechanisms.Methods The effects of C20 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were detected by CCK8 assay,colony formation assay,and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining assay.The effects of C20(10 μmol·L-1)on DNA damage of HepG2 cells were detected by comet assay.The effects of C20(5,10 μmol·L-1)on cell cycle of HepG2 cells were detected by flow cytometry.The effects of C20(5 and 10 μmol·L-1)on apoptosis of HepG2 cells were detected by Hoechst staining and flow cytometry.The effects of C20(5 and 10 μmol·L-1)on expression levels of proteins related to DNA damage,cell cycle,and apoptosis in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with control group,C20 significantly inhibited the viability of HepG2 cells(P<0.001),with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of 7.937 μmol·L-1 after 48 h of treatment;5 μmol·L-1 C20 significantly inhibited the colony-forming ability of HepG2 cells(P<0.01);the EdU staining results showed that 5 and 10 μmol·L-1 of C20 could inhibit the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells;5 and 10 μmol·L-1 of C20 significantly induced G2/M phase arrest in HepG2 cells(P<0.001);5 and 10 μmol·L-1 of C20 significantly promoted apoptosis in HepG2 cells(P<0.001),and significantly upregulated the cleavage levels of Caspas-3,Caspase-9,and PARP(P<0.01);10 μmol·L-1 of C20 could induce DNA damage in HepG2 cells,and 5 and 10 μmol·L-1 of C20 significantly upregulated the protein levels of γH2AX and p21(P<0.01).Conclusion We speculate that C20 treatment can induce DNA damage and upregulate p21 expression in HepG2 cells,leading to G2/M arrest and further inducing apoptosis,which is partially responsible for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity of C20.