Heparin and Liver Heparan Sulfate Can Rescue Hepatoma Cells from Topotecan Action
Figure 1
Effects of heparin and TpT on HepG2 (panel a) and Hep3B (panel b) cell numbers after 48–120 h incubation (results of 3 independent experiments). After 48 h of plating, serum has been withdrawn and the action of heparin and TpT was studied under serum-free conditions. Cells were grown for 72 h in the presence of 1 μM TpT, 100 μg/mL heparin alone, or in combination of the two. The curves represent the average of 6 parallels. Cells were counted daily. Both cell lines reached the exponential phase of cell growth around 48 h. Inhibitory action of TpT occurred at 72 h, which was exerted continuously thereafter (difference is significant with Student’s t-test ). 100 μg/mL heparin inhibited the growth of both hepatoma cell lines, but at a lower extent than TpT ( with Student’s t-test for HepG2, for Hep3B). In combined treatment heparin rescued the cells against TpT action. The protection was significant for Hep3B cells (b) ( with Student’s t-test), but not for HepG2 cells (Figure 1(a)) .
