Objective:To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor （HGF）on the proliferation of human hepatocellualr carcinoma cells, and the mechanism of HGF-induced proliferation inhibition.
Methods :Human hepatocellualr carcinoma cell line HepG2 were treated with different concentrations of HGF for different time periods, and the proliferation of these cells was examined by colorimetric BrdU cell proliferation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of S-phase kinase associated protein 2(Skp2) was examined using Western blot and RT-PCR. Plasmids pcDNASkp2 was introduced into HepG2 cells, then the clones showing up-regulation of Skp2 were selected, and the effect of HGF on the proliferation in these clones was investigated.
Results:HGF inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The expression of Skp2 was significantly suppressed by HGF. Furthermore, HGF did not suppress the proliferation of HepG2 cells transfected with Skp2.
Conclusions:This study suggests that HGF could inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation, and the down-regulation of Skp2 could be closely related to this suppressed proliferation.