Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Transient Expression of Foreign Genes in Insect Cells sf9 for Protein Functional Assay
Published on: February 22, 2018
Evaluation of Apoptotic Gene Expression in Hepatoma Cell Line (HepG2) Following Nisin Treatment
Nahid Zainodini1, Mohammad Reza Hajizadeh2,3, Mohammad Reza Mirzaei2,3
1Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Objective:
The present study aims to examine the effects of nisin on the survival and apoptosis of the hepatoma cell line HepG2 and to investigate possible apoptosis pathways activated by nisin.
Materials And Methods:
For this purpose, viability and apoptosis of the cells were accomplished by the nisin treatment using the MTT assay and Annexin-V-fluorescein/propidium iodide (PI) double staining, respectively. Additionally, the human apoptosis PCR array was performed to determine pathways or genes activated by nisin during possible apoptosis.
Results:
The results of the present study showed that nisin was able to decrease cell viability (IC50 ~ 40 µg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner and could induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. PCR data indicated a considerable increase in the expression of genes, such as caspase and BCL2 families, involved in the induction of apoptosis.
Conclusions:
The data from this study showed that overexpression of genes involved in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, especially caspase-9 and BID, increased apoptosis in HepG2 cells treated by nisin, compared to the control group.
Insights
Nisin effectively reduces hepatoma cell viability and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells. This occurs through the activation of intrinsic apoptosis pathways, involving key genes like caspase-9 and BID.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hepatoma, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma, remains a significant global health concern.
- Nisin, a bacteriocin, has demonstrated potential anti-cancer properties in preliminary studies.
- Understanding nisin's mechanism of action in cancer cells is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of nisin on the survival of the HepG2 hepatoma cell line.
- To investigate nisin-induced apoptosis and identify the specific molecular pathways involved.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay following nisin treatment.
- Apoptosis induction was quantified via Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining.
- The human apoptosis PCR array was employed to identify activated apoptosis-related genes and pathways.
Main Results:
- Nisin significantly decreased HepG2 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 40 µg/ml.
- Nisin treatment demonstrably induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.
- PCR array analysis revealed a notable upregulation of genes within the caspase and BCL2 families, crucial for apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Nisin induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells primarily through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway.
- Upregulation of specific genes, including caspase-9 and BID, was observed, correlating with increased apoptosis.
- These findings suggest nisin's potential as an anti-cancer agent targeting hepatoma cells.
More Related Videos
08:51Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
Published on: June 25, 2015
13:54Preparation of Cell-lines for Conditional Knockdown of Gene Expression and Measurement of the Knockdown Effects on E4orf4-Induced Cell Death
Published on: October 21, 2012