Objective    To observe the effects TRAIL

5-FU and their combination on the proliferation and apoptosis of HEP-2 cell line

and to explore the possible mechanism.     Methods    TRAIL (10.0 ng/ml) and 5-FU (1.0 μg/ml) were used. HEP-2 cells were divided into control group

TRAIL treated group

5-FU treated group

5-FU+TRAIL treated group. The inhibition on the proliferation of HEP-2 cells respectively treated with TRAIL

5-FU and their combination was detected by MTT and their apoptosis rate was detected by FCM. Cell morphology was observed by fluorescence microscopy. The protein expressions of c-FLIP and NF-κB in all groups were detected by Western blotting.     Results    The inhibition rate and apoptosis rate of 5-FU+TRAIL treated cells was significantly higher than those of TRAIL treated cells and those of 5-FU treated cells. The expressions of c-FLIP and NF-κB in TRAIL treated cells and 5-FU treated cells were higher than those in TRAIL+5-FU treated cells.     Conclusion    TRAIL alone or combined with 5-FU can induce the inhibition and apoptosis of HEP-2 cell line

and the mechanism may be through restraining the protein expressions of c-FLIP and NF-κB.