Chemosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703 is related to bcl-2 protein levels.
Bcl-2 protein is one of the major apoptosis regulators. The study examines the effect of Bcl-2 protein on the chemosensitivity of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, QGY-7703. Western blot analysis showed that Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were expressed in QGY-7703 cells. Characteristic features of Taxol- and doxorubicin-induced apoptosis were evidenced by the Annexin-V binding assay, TUNEL and DAPI staining. At constant Bax protein levels, stable sense and antisense gene-transfected QGY-7703 cells showed that constitutive expression of Bcl-2 could render the cells more resistant to Taxol and doxorubicin. Contrarily, decreased Bcl-2 levels caused the cells to be more sensitive to the drugs. As Bcl-2 levels are directly proportional to the resistance of QGY-7703 cells to Taxol and doxorubicin, manipulation of Bcl-2 could be performed to enhance the sensitivity of liver cancer to chemotherapeutic agents.
Luo
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D
Department of Biology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Cheng
S C
SC
Xie
H
H
Xie
Y
Y
D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000633:toxicity*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
D017304:Annexin A5; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D004317:Doxorubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel