OBJECTIVE To investigate apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells induced by resveratrol and the molecular mechanism involved.METHODS MG63 cells were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe morphological changes occurring in apoptosis.The MTT method was used to determine the inhibitory rate and flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis and to analyze the expression of the p21cip1/WAF1 and survivin proteins;the expression of p21cip1/WAF1 and survivin mRNAs was analyzed by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).RESULTS A er resveratrol treatment,the growth of the MG63 cells was significantly inhibited in a time-and dose-dependent fashion.By transmission electron microscopy,the cells displayed morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis,including formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles,chromatin condensation and margination.Flow cytometry showed that the growth of the cells was inhibited a er resveratrol(10 mg/L and 20 mg/L) treatment.The inhibitory rates were(11.9 ± 0.63)% and(19.7 ± 0.88)% respectively.The quantity of treated cells in G0/G1 transition was increased,but the number in the S phase and G2/M transition was decreased.A subdiploid peak was observed.The expression of p21cip1/WAF1 was up-regulated while survivin was down-regulated.CONCLUSION Resveratrol can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of MG63 cells.Its molecular mechanism might be related to modulation of survivin and p21cip1/WAF1 expression. OBJECTIVE To investigate apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells induced by resveratrol and the molecular mechanism involved. METHODS MG63 cells were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe morphological changes occurring in apoptosis. The MTT method was used to determine the inhibitory rate and flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis and to analyze the expression of the p21cip1 / WAF1 and survivin proteins; the expression of p21cip1 / WAF1 and survivin mRNAs was analyzed by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) .RESULTS A er resveratrol treatment, the growth of the MG63 cells was significantly inhibited in a time-and dose-dependent fashion. By transmission electron microscopy, the cells displayed morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis, including formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles, chromatin condensation and margination. Flow cytometry showed that the growth of the cells was inhibited a re re The amount of treated cells in G0 / G1 transition was increased, but the number in (10 mg / L and 20 mg / L) treatment showed that the inhibitory rates were (11.9 ± 0.63)% and the S phase and G2 / M transition was decreased. A subdiploid peak was observed. The expression of p21cip1 / WAF1 was up-regulated while survivin was down-regulated. CONCLUSION Resveratrol can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of MG63 cells. Its molecular mechanism might be related to modulation of survivin and p21cip1 / WAF1 expression.