Background & objective: P53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene,and its mutation in human tumor cells is frequently observed. Previous studies revealed that wild type p53 (wt-p53)gene can suppress proliferation ,and induce apoptosis of tumor cells. However,the enhancive effect of wt-p53 on apoptosis of tumor cells is not so obvious when it is used alone. Therefore,it is a new field for tumor research that wt-p53 gene combined with drug is used to enhance apoptosis rate of tumor cells. This study was to investigate the enhancement effect of the combination of wt-p53 and 1,2:5,6-dianhydro-3,4-diacetylgalactitol (DADAG)on apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma cell line HLE.
Methods: HLE cells were transfected with pUHD10-3-p53 plasmid contained wt-p53 gene,and treated with DADAG. After 96-hour treatment,apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and DNA electrophoresis.
Results: The apoptosis rates were: 1.4% in untreated group, 3.5% in pUHD10-3-transfection group, 32.6% in DADAG group, 43.4% in pUHD10-3-p53-transfection group, and 74.6% in pUHD10-3-p53-transfection plus DADAG-treatment group. DNA ladder was observed in pUHD10-3-p53-transfection plus DADAG-treatment group.
Conclusion: Apoptosis of HLE cells could be induced by both wt-p53 gene and DADAG,and the effect was more obvious when HLE cells were treated by the combination of wt-p53 gene and DADAG.