Abstract:

Objective    To investigate expression changes of histone deacetylases 4(HDAC4)and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1(VEGFR-1) in the human cancer cell line HepG2 treated with sodium phenylbutyrate(SPB)， and its effects on invasion and adhesion in the human carcinoma cell line HepG2 in vitro. Methods     The human carcinoma cell line HepG2 was cultured in vitro, and divided into the experimental group and the control group. Cells in the experimental group were cultured in the presence of SPB.  Expressions of HDAC4 and VEGFR-1 were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry, and expression changes by Western blot. The effect on invasion was observed through transwell chambers, and the adherence ability of the HepG2 cell line was analyzed by MTT.  Results    Immunocytochemical and Western blot displayed that the cell line HepG2 expressed HDAC4 and VEGFR-1, and down-regulated expressions of HDAC4 and VEGFR-1 were observed in the experimental group by Western blot, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Through Transwell chambers, the invasion cell number in the SPB-treated group was significantlydecreased than that in the control group (161.80±46.80 vs 329.20±55.99, P<0.01). The restraining ratio was 50.85%, and the adhesion rate of HepG2 cells was more significantly lower than in the controls(P<0.01).  Conclusion    Human cancer cell line HepG2 can express HDAC4 and VEGFR-1, which can be inhibited by SPB. SPB takes an important part in the adhesion, invasion and metastasis of HepG2 cells.

Key words: Histone deacetylases 4; Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1; Invasiveness; Adhesion