Effects of inositol 1,2,6-triphosphate on human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells

摘要

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphoric acid) is present substantially in plant kingdom, and has striking anticancer effects. Phytic acid can be hydrolyzed into lower inositol phosphates by partial dephosphorylation during food processing. Inositol 1,2,6-triphosphate [Ins(1,2,6)P3] is the derivative of phytic acid prepared by partial hydrolysis of phytic acid with Aspergillus terreus phytase. The effects of Ins(1,2,6)P3 on the cell proliferation rate, cell cycle distribution, immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and α-fetal protein (AFT) in human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cell line were investigated. Ins(1,2,6)P3 inhibited cell proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Ins(1,2,6)P3 induced an accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. AFT test and PCNA test indicated that the malignant expression of SMMC-7721 cells was reduced and the malignant cells differentiated toward normal cells. Results of these studies demonstrated that Ins(1,2,6)P3 has obvious anticancer activities.