Resveratrol induces apoptosis in human SK-HEP-1 hepatic cancer cells.

BACKGROUND Resveratrol, a phytochemical present in grapes, berries, and red wines, has been reported to induce apoptosis in various cancer cells. To explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer activity, the apoptotic activity of resveratrol in hepatic cancer cells was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS 1-Dimensional (1D) and 2-dimensional (2D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis were used to determine proteomic expression profiles in SK-Hep-1 cells. RESULTS Resveratrol inhibited cell proliferation, generated reactive oxygen species, and caused DNA single-strand breaks. 2D gel electrophoresis showed one up-regulated protein (Ras-related protein Rab 37) and five down-regulated proteins (annexin A8, thymidine kinase, maspin, peroxiredoxin-2, and guanine nucleotide-binding protein). Most of the proteins obtained from the 2D gel electrophoresis were identified as apoptosis-related proteins. From the 1D gel electrophoresis analysis, 14 proteins were identified which had no matched peptide sequence in the controls at the level of even one unique peptide unit. Resveratrol regulated the expression of proteins involved in the redox pathways and apoptosis. CONCLUSION Resveratrol causes hepatic cancer cell death by suppressing the expression of antioxidant proteins.