Abstract: Objective To study the effects of MIBG(meta-iodobenzylguanidine) on proliferation in hepatoma carcinoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanism. Methods The expression of ART1 in HepG2 cells was detected by cellular immunofluorescence method. The effect of different concentration of MIBG on cell survival rate and cell cycle phases in HepG2 cells were respectively measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The expression of ART1, RhoA , c-myc and cyclinA1 were detected by Western blot. Results It showed that the ART1 existed in the HepG2 cells. The MIBG could inhibit the growth of the HepG2 cells arrested in S phase, which could be affected by different concentrations (P<0.05). The expression of the ART1, RhoA, c-myc and cyclinA1 decreased after using the MIBG (P<0.05). Conclusion MIBG, which down-regulated RhoA pathway and the downstream factors c-myc and cyclinA1, could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and arrest the cell cycles in S phase.

Key words: Hepatoma carcinoma, cell proliferation, mono-ADP-ribosylation, MIBG