title: Expression of IL 1betaconverting enzyme in 5-FU induced apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells.
abstract: AIM:To study the role of interleukin 1beta converting enzyme(ICE)in antitumor drug induced apoptosis in tumor cells.METHODS:Morphological changes in human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells after treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were observed under light and electron microscope. Expression of ICE in the tumor cells exposed to 5-FU was examined by the immunocytochemical method.RESULTS:The cells treated with 5-FU displayed disappearance of nucleoli, chromatin gathering under nuclear envelope, karyorrhexis, budding and the formation of apoptotic bodies.The expression of ICE was negative in control cells, and 5-FU could induce the ICE expression in Eca-109 cells undergoing apoptosis. The number and the staining intensity of positive cells increased with the extension of action time.CONCLUSION: 5-FU may induce apoptosis in human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells; ICE gene may be involved in the regulation of 5-FU induced apoptosis; and ICE protein may mediate apoptosis induced by 5-FU.
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yun-Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Su-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Yuan