Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect of macromolecular fractions of fresh gecko (M-AG) in vivo and their differentiation-inducing activity in Bel-7402 cells in vitro.Methods:An H22 hepatocarcinoma-bearing mouse model was used to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of M-AG samples.The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was applied to analyze cell viability.Cell morphology was observed by phase contrast microscopy.The quantity of the alpha-fetoprotein was detected by a radioimmunoassay.Chromatometry was used to assay the albumin quantity.Activities of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl trans-peptidase were measured by biochemical methods.Finally,western blotting was applied to assess proteins in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.Results:Macromolecular fractions of fresh gecko exerted a significant anti-tumor effect in mice.The inhibition rate of tumor growth was 63% in the moderate M-AG dose group.Cells treated with M-AG displayed a differentiated state.The treatment lowered alphafetoprotein secretion and significantly decreased the activities of γ-glutamyl trans-peptidase and alkaline phosphatase in Bel-7402 cells.In contrast,M-AG increased the amount of albumin in the cell culture medium.All biochemical indices demonstrated that M-AG induced Bel7402 cell differentiation.Western blotting showed no changes in the quantities of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2,p38MAPK,or c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1/2.However,M-AG significantly activated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a dose-dependent manner.In addition,M-AG had no significant influence on the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B.Conclusion:Macromolecular fractions of fresh gecko has an anti-tumor activity in H22 hepatocarcinoma-bearing mice in vivo and inhibits Bel-7402 cell proliferation in vitro by inducing cell differentiation related to activation of ERK1/2.
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