Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the influence of platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGFD) on the proliferation of BEL-7402 human liver tumor cells and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Methods:Human liver tumor cell strain BEL- 7402 and paracarcinoma cell strain QSG-7701 were culturedin vitro . PDGF-D and PDGFR β mRNA expression were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). BEL-7402was treated with differ -ent concentrations ( 0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 , and 200 μ g/mL) of exogenous PDGF-D. Cel l prol i feration was measured using the MTT assay. The effect of exogenous PDGF-D on the cell cycle of BEL- 7402cells was assessed by flow cytometry. The expression of VEGF was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA in BEL- 7402 cells that were exposed to different concentrations of PDGF-D. Results: PDGF-D and PDGFR β mRNA expression in human l iver tumor cel l strain BEL-7402 was considered significantly higher than that in paracarcinoma cell strain QSG-7701 (P<0.05). Exogenous PDGF-D promoted proliferation of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner from 10μ g/mL to 100 μ g/mL (P<0.05). The effect of PDGF-D at 100 µg/mL was stronger than at other concentrations. Incubation of tumor cells with PDGF-D markedly decreased the percentage of cells in G0/G 1-phase and increased the percentage of cel ls in S-phase. Compared wi th the control group, VEGF and PDGFR β mRNA expression in the experimental groups (PDGF-D from10µg/mL to 200 µg/mL) was increased ( P<0.05). VEGF pro -tein expression in the experimental groups was significantly enhanced by exogenous PDGF-D in a dose-dependent man -ner, except in the 5 µg/mL group. Similarly, VEGF protein expression in the experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. Conclusion:PDGF-D can promote proliferation of hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 cells and in-crease expression of VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. PDGF-D may play an important role in the development of HCC and can be used as an index for prognosis evaluation and a target of treatment for liver cancer.