Fig. 3

Distinct effect of 5-AZA on HCC cell lines viability, proliferation and apoptosis. a 5-AZA treatment reduced resazurin conversion in HCC cell lines (Huh7, HLE, and HLF). The mitochondria activity of cells decreased upon treatment with 5, 10, and 20 μM of 5-AZA for 24, 48, 96, and 120 h in time- and dose-dependent manner (N = 4, n = 3). b Twenty micromolars of 5-AZA inhibited the PCNA expression in HCC cell lines after 48 h of incubation. c Twenty micromolars of 5-AZA caused LDH release in HLE and HLF cells after 48 h; however, LDH released in culture supernants by Huh7 cells did not increase upon treatment 5-AZA after (N = 4, n = 3). d 5-AZA induced cell death in HLE and HLF cells. Determination of sub2N fractions as marker for apoptosis was measured after treatment of HCC cells with 20 μM 5-AZA for 48 h (p value assed by Student’s t test; bars show the mean ± SE of three independent experiments)