Fisetin induces apoptosis in Huh-7 cells via downregulation of BIRC8 and Bcl2L2

This study aimed to investigate the effects of fisetin, a common dietary natural flavonoid, on apoptosis of Huh-7 cells. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the reduction of cell viability. In the DNA fragmentation assay and comet assay, fisetin-induced DNA damage was visible as a formation of DNA fragmentation and comet tails. Fisetin also induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed to evaluate protein expression in fisetin-treated and control cells, and Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 8 (BIRC8) and apoptosis regulator Bcl-W (Bcl2L2) were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Their expression was confirmed by western blotting. The anticancer effect of fisetin in Huh-7 cells may result from the down regulation of BIRC8 and the Bcl2L2.