Cell cycle dependency of MTBITC-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in HCC cells.

<p>(a–d) influence of cell number on sensitivity to MTBITC-induced growth arrest and cytotoxicity, as assessed by DNA content analysis (a, b), neutral red retention (c) or subG1 peak analysis (d) of HCC cells. 0.1% DMSO was used as solvent control, 0.01% triton X-100 as positive control (+). (e and f) impact of G0/1 phase synchronization on cell sensitivity to MTBITC in HepG2 cells, as determined by DNA content analysis. (e) cells were treated with 2% DMSO for 96 h and subsequently treated with 25 µM MTBITC or 0.1% DMSO for another 24 h. (f) cells were starved for 96 h and subsequently treated with 25 µM MTBITC or 0.1% DMSO for another 24 h, while adding varying amounts of serum. Bars are mean+SD, (n = 3).