Hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines exhibit sensitivity differences in response to IFN-γtreatment in vitro

Objective To investigate the diversity of different hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell lines in response to IFN-γtreatment in vitro.Methods Expression of receptors IFN-γin 9 kinds of HCC cell lines was detected using realtime(RT)-PCR.After IFN-γwas treated,the changes of cell cycle and proportion of apoptotic cell in HepG2、SNU182、 SNU449 and PLC cells were measured by flow cytometry.Results Low expression of IFNGR1 was observed in HepG2、 SNU449 and Huh-7 cell lines,low expression of IFNGR2 also exhibited in Huh-7 cell line(0.5),when compared to normal liver tissues.IFN-γtreatment induced apoptosis of HepG2,SNU182 and SNU449 cell,cause cycle retardation in G1-S phase transition of HepG2 cell and G2/M arrest of SNU182 cell.No obvious inhibitory effects on PLC cell were observed.Conclusion IFN-γcould inhibit the proliferation of HCC by promoting cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.There are differences in HCC cells sensitivity to IFN-γ.In clinical practice,individual differences should be considered while HCC was treated with IFN-γ.