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. 2005 Jan;47(1-3):133–138. doi: 10.1007/s10616-005-3750-y

Inhibitory Effect of Ascorbic Acid on the Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatoma Cells in Culture

Nobuhiro Hirakawa 1, Yutaka Miura 1, Kazumi Yagasaki 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3449812  PMID: 19003053

Abstract

Effect of ascorbic acid (AsA) on the proliferation and invasion of rat ascites hepatoma AH109A cells was investigated by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble fraction of the cells and by co-culturing the hepatoma cells with rat mesentery-derived mesothelial cells, respectively. AsA suppressed the invasion of AH109A cells in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 62.5–500 μM, while it inhibited the proliferation of the cells at higher concentrations of 250 and 500 μM. Hepatoma cells previously cultured with hypoxanthine (HX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) or with hydrogen peroxide showed increased invasive activities. AsA suppressed the reactive oxygen species-potentiated invasive capacity by simultaneously treating AH109A cells with AsA, HX and XO or with AsA and hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, AsA reduced the intracellular peroxide levels in AH109A cells. These results suggest that the antioxidative property of AsA may be involved in its anti-invasive action on hepatoma cells.

Keywords: Ascorbic acid, Hepatoma cells, Hydrogen peroxide, Invasion, Reactive oxygen species

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Glossary

AsA

ascorbic acid

CS

calf serum

HX

hypoxanthine

M-cells

mesothelial cells

MEM

Eagle’s minimum essential medium

ROS

reactive oxygen species

XO

xanthine oxidase

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