title: Antisense bcl-2 treatment increases programmed cell death in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.
abstract: Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically regulated pathway that is altered in many cancers. This process is, in part, regulated by the ratio of PCD inducers (Bax) or inhibitors (Bcl-2). An abnormally high ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax prevents PCD, thus contributing to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, many of which are capable of inducing PCD. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells demonstrate resistance to these PCD-inducing agents. If Bcl-2 prevents NSCLC cells from entering the PCD pathway, then reducing the amount of endogenous Bcl-2 product may allow these cells to spontaneously enter the PCD pathway. Our purpose was to determine the effects of bcl-2 antisense treatment on the levels of programmed cell death in NSCLC cells. First, we determined whether bcl-2 and bax mRNA were expressed in three morphologically distinct NSCLC cell lines: NCI-H226 (squamous), NCI-H358 (adenocarcinoma), and NCI-H596 (adenosquamous). Cells were then exposed to synthetic antisense bcl-2 oligonucleotide treatment, after which programmed cell death was determined, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation. Bcl-2 protein expression was detected immunohistochemically. All three NSCLC cell lines expressed both bcl-2 and bax mRNA and had functional PCD pathways. Synthetic antisense bcl-2 oligonucleotide treatment resulted in decreased Bcl-2 levels, reduced cell proliferation, decreased cell viability, and increased levels of spontaneous PCD. This represents the first evidence that decreasing Bcl-2 in three morphologically distinct NSCLC cell lines allows the cells to spontaneously enter a PCD pathway. It also indicates the potential therapeutic use of antisense bcl-2 in the treatment of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Lung Cancer Program, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA. koty@pgh.auhs.edu
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Koty
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000633:toxicity*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein