Study of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on human hepatocarcinoma cell lines

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor Celecoxib on hepatocarcinoma cell lines in vitro. METHODS:The growth of hepatocarcinoma cells were evaluated by MTT and the expressions of PCNA and COX-2 were assayed with the immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells induced by Celecoxib and P-gp expression were detected by using electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Expressions of COX-2 and Survivin were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS:The inhibitory growth effect and apoptosis induced by Celecoxib were time-and concentration-dependent. Substantial apoptosis was revealed by increment of apoptotic body under electron microscopy. The PCNA expressing was greatly lessened. The percentage of G_0/G_1 phase cells in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines was increased compared with the controls and other groups. COX-2 and Survivin and P-gp were down-regulated. CONCLUSION:Celecoxib may act effectively on hepatocarcinoma cells probably by COX-2 pathway and non-COX-2 pathway, such as down-regulating Survivin and P-gp.