TY - JOUR AB - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an oleanolic acid derivative, a novel antitumor drug, on the growth of SMMC‑7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanism. An MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of the oleanolic acid derivative. Cell membrane integrity was assessed using fluorescence microscopy to assess the uptake of annexin V‑FITC/propidium iodide (PI). Western blotting was used to detect the apoptosis‑associated proteins B cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2), Bax, caspase‑9 and caspase‑3. A spectrophotometer was used to analyze the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) expression level. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by performing the JC‑1 assay. ELISA was used to evaluate the content of cytochrome c (Cyt‑C). The oleanolic acid derivative reduced the cell viability of SMMC‑7721 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values of the oleanolic acid derivative in SMMC‑7721 cells at 24, 48 and 72 h were 26.80, 11.85, and 6.66 µM, respectively. The antiapoptotic‑protein Bcl‑2 was downregulated, and the proapoptotic protein Bax was upregulated following treatment with the oleanolic acid derivative for 48 h. The oleanolic acid derivative induced the cleavage of caspase‑9 and caspase‑3 as well as promoted annexin V‑FITC/PI uptake in SMMC‑7721 cells. Furthermore, treatment of SMMC‑7721 cells with the oleanolic acid derivative induced a reduction of the intracellular ATP expression level, loss of ΔΨm and Cyt‑C release from the mitochondria. The oleanolic acid derivative induced apoptosis in SMMC‑7721 human cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction was involved in the anticancer effects of this derivative on SMMC-7721 human cells. AD - College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, P.R. China Department of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Chemistry, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100000, P.R. China Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA AU - Fan,Xinfeng AU - Wang,Penglong AU - Sun,Yaogui AU - Jiang,Junbing AU - Du,Haiyuan AU - Wang,Zhirui AU - Duan,Zhibian AU - Lei,Haimin AU - Li,Hongquan DA - 2018/03/01 DO - 10.3892/ol.2017.7653 EP - 2828 IS - 3 JO - Oncol Lett KW - oleanolic acid derivative apoptosis mitochondrial dysfunction human hepatocellular carcinoma mitochondrial membrane potential PY - 2018 SN - 1792-1074 1792-1082 SP - 2821 ST - Induction of apoptosis by an oleanolic acid derivative in SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction T2 - Oncology Letters TI - Induction of apoptosis by an oleanolic acid derivative in SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7653 VL - 15 ER -