In Vitro Evaluation of Hepg2 Cell Proliferation Altered by Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species

Abstract

This study was to investigate cell proliferation regulated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and their scavengers. Earlier conclusions are paradoxical on roles that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and their scavengers enhance or inhibit cancer cell proliferations. This study employed the MTS assay to evaluate proliferations of HepG2 cells treated with various concentrations of two different nitric oxide donors, hydrogen peroxide and their scavengers for 24 hours. The MTS assay revealed that low concentrations of SNP, SNAP and H 2 O 2 can significantly enhance HepG2 cell proliferation, and high concentrations of cPTIO significantly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation. Additionally, the assay also indicated that 100 µM H 2 O 2 , 100 µM cPTIO or 100 U/mL catalase did not have evident synergisms with NSP or SNAP. However, due to reactions of the chemicals with reagents of kits of the MTS assay, the data were not inferred that low concentrations of NO and H 2 O 2 enhance proliferation, whereas high concentrations inhibit proliferation, and whether there are synergistic effects with the combination of SNP (or SNAP) and H 2 O 2 , cPTIO or catalase.