Objective: To investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by chelerythrine (CHE) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 in vitro. Method: With HepG2 cells as the study objects

the cell proliferation effect of CHE was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric method

the effect of CHE on apoptotic morphology changes in HepG2 cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining

the expressions of X protein related to Bcl-2 (Bax)

anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-xl) in B lymphocyte tumor-2 genes (Bcl-2) family

and pro-apoptotic protein Caspase-3 in cysteine family were detected by Western blot. Detect Bax

Bcl-xl

Caspase-3 mRNA expression levels of influence of CHE by Real-time PCR. Result: Compared with control group

CHE could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50)of 6

12

24 h was 12.98

10.53

11.21 μmol·L-1 respectively. In Hoechst 33258 staining results

CHE group showed typical apoptosis characteristics. CHE in high concentration could up-regulate the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bax

Caspase-3

and decrease the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-xl. As compared with the control group

there was statistically significant difference in above indexes (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Chelerythrine can inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells

and induce apoptosis by increasing the pro-apoptotic protein and mRNA expression levels and decreasing anti-apoptotic proteins and mRNA expression levels.