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Propofol induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by upregulation of microRNA‐199a expression
Author(s) -
Zhang Jian,
Wu Guoqing,
Zhang Yan,
Feng Zhiying,
Zhu Shengmei
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1002/cbin.10034
Subject(s) - propofol , apoptosis , hepatocellular carcinoma , flow cytometry , caspase 3 , downregulation and upregulation , pharmacology , cancer research , chemistry , medicine , immunology , programmed cell death , biochemistry , gene
Propofol is one of the extensively commonly used intravenous anaesthetic agents. The effects of Propofol on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth inhibition and apoptosis have been examined. The techniques used were the MTT assay, flow cytometry, real‐time PCR to assess miR‐199a expression, as also caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 activity in HepG2 cells treated with Propofol. Finally, we evaluated the effect of miR‐199a on Propofol‐induced anti‐tumour activity using anti‐miR‐199a. Propofol efficiently inhibited the growth of HCC cells, but was less toxic to normal hepatic cells. It induced apoptosis and increased expression of miR‐199a. Activation of caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 suggested that both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways are involved in Propofol‐induced apoptosis. Anti‐miR‐199a reversed the effect of Propofol on apoptosis and activation of caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 in HepG2 cells. Propofol can effectively induce apoptosis of HCC cells and modulation of miR‐199a possibly contributes to the anti‐tumour action of Propofol. Hence, Propofol might be an effective drug for HCC.