Apoptosis induced by culturing MH134 cells in the presence of porcine skin gelatin in vitro

Porcine skin (PS) gelatin showed antitumor effect in vitro on MH134 murine hepatoma cells. We analyzed the effect of PS gelatin on MH134 cells compared to the effect of Bovine bone (BB) gelatin, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38). We previously suggested that PS gelatin induces apoptosis in MH134 cells using flow cytometric analysis. We performed agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopic studies to ascertain apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed the typical DNA ladder pattern and electron microscopic findings revealed characteristic features in the case of apoptosis on PS gelatin. SN-38 also showed DNA ladder pattern and ultrastructural changes in apoptosis. 5-FU didn't show DNA ladder pattern but electron microscope revealed changes in necrosis. On the other hand, BB gelatin didn't induce apoptosis or necrosis.