Mechanism Of Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) And BSO’s (Buthionine Sulfoximine) Inhibition Of HepG2Cells’ Proliferation

Objective: To study the mechanism of the gold nanoparticles (GNP) combined with BSO(buthionine sulfoximine) can inhibit HepG2cells (human liver cancer cells) proliferation or notand its possibility.Methods:1.Using MTT (MTT) colorimetric method alone or combined with medicine tohave the effect on the proliferation of HepG2cells;2.Using flow cytometry alone or combinedwith medicine to have the effect on the rate apoptosis of HepG2cells;3.Using DTNB methodalone or combined with pills to detect GSH (glutathione) level in HepG2cells;4.Using DCFH-DA method alone or combined with medicine to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levelof HepG2cells;5.Using the inverted microscope alone or combined with medicine to observethe effect on changes in the morphology of HepG2cells.Results:1.MTT colorimetric method verifies that GNP combined with BSO can inhibitproliferation of HepG2cells; the other three groups show no significant inhibition ofproliferation of HepG2cells. Experiments measured inhibition proliferation rate of HepG2cells,blank control group0%，the group GNP combined with BSO (10.25±0.88)%，the group GNP（1.11±1.01）%, the group BSO（1.58±0.94）%，p<0.05；2.Flow cytometry method verifies thatGNP combined with BSO can enhance the apoptosis rate of HepG2cells, the other three groupsshow no obvious apoptosis of HepG2cells. Different experiments that divided into groupsmeasure the apoptosis rate of HepG2cells: the group GNP combined with BSO[（21.45±3.17）%]，the group GNP [（7.32±1.43）%]，the group BSO[（6.83±1.41）%]，blank controlgroup（[8.12±1.74）%]，p<0.05；3.DTNB method verifies that BSO makes GSH levels in HepG2cells decreased, compared with the blank control group, GSH levels in HepG2cells decreased byabout60%, different experiments that divided into groups measure the GSH levels in HepG2cells: the group GNP combined with BSO[（36.76±3.77）%]，the group GNP[（97.23±8.94）%]，the group BSO（[38.52±3.35）%]，blank control group100%，p<0.05；4.DCFH-DA methodverifies that GNP combined with BSO makes the active oxygen levels in HepG2cells increased,compared with the blank control group, ROS levels in HepG2cells increased by about200%,different experiments that divided into groups measure the active oxygen levels in HepG2cells: the group GNP combined with BSO[（298.12±23.71）%]，the group GNP[（102.51±8.68）%]，the group BSO[（137.98±10.52）%]，blank control group100%，p<0.05;5.Through invertedmicroscope’s observation and photograph, we can see that BSO combined GNP work on HepG2cells lead in reducing the number of HepG2cells, rounding the cell shape, degrading the cellularadherent as well as the cell morphology.Conclusion: The gold nanoparticles combined with BSO can inhibit proliferation of HepG2cells and enhance the apoptosis rate of HepG2cells. The mechanism may include：1.ReducingGSH levels in HepG2cells;2.Increasing ROS levels in HepG2cells.