Mechanism of Coix seed injection enhances the radiosensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell Bel-7402

Objective: To observe the effects of Coix seed injection on the cell viability and radiosensitivity of human hepatoma cell line Bel-7402. Methods: Bel-7402 cells were irradiated by X-rays, or treated with Coix seed injection, or treated with both of them. The cells proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT and by flow cytometry respectively. Cell cloning was used to observe the number of viable cells and to draw the cell survival curve. The mRNA and protein level of Bax, Bcl-2 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results: It was found that the Coix seed injection group(12 μmol/L) and X-ray group(8 Gy) had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells(t = 17.03, 11.26, P < 0.05). And compared with Coix group and irradiation group, the combined treatment group showed higher inhibition rate(t = 24.80, 20.19, P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of Bax were gradually elevated(F = 437.92, 67.91, P < 0.05), while the expressions of Bcl-2 reflected a decreased trend (F = 31.18, 48.50, P < 0.05). The D₀ values of pure irradiation group and combined treatment group were 4.27 and 3.34, respectively, and the sensitization enhancement ratio was 1.27. Conclusions: The Coix seed injection inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis, as well as increase radiative sensitization may via the apoptosis related factors Bax and Bcl-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. (authors)