OBJECTIVE: To explore whether p27(KIP1) plays an important role in prolonging cell cycle in G(1) phase and leading to apoptosis of HCC-9204 cells.METHODS: A model of Bak-induced cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase and subsequent apoptosis was established. p27(KIP1) was obtained from the model and sequenced afterwards. A zinc inducible p27(KIP1) stable transfectant was constructed. The effects of inducible p27(KIP1) on cell growth and cell cycle arrest were examined in control pMD and pMD-KIP1 transfected HCC-9204 cells. Western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of p27(KIP1).RESULTS: The cell growth was reduced by 35% upon 48h of p27(KIP1) induction with zinc treatment as determined by trypan blue exclusion assay. p27(KIP1) caused cell cycle arrest at 24h after induction, with 40% increase in G(1) population.CONCLUSIONS: Bak may induce cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase through up-regulating expression of p27(KIP1). The inducible p27(KIP1)-expressing cells provide a model to assess p27(KIP1) function.
Apoptosis Carcinoma, Hepatocellular