title: [Correlation of intra-cellular localization and variations of active caspase-3 to morphology changes in apoptotic MOLT-4 cells induced by X-ray].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How pro-caspase-3 activation lead to serial morphology changes during progress of cell apoptosis is unclear. This study was to investigate the variations and intra-localization of active Caspase-3, determine cell morphology changes in apoptotic MOLT-4 cells induced by X-ray, and evaluate their relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  MOLT-4 cells were irradiated by 10 Gy X-ray. Sub G(1)peak method, and DNA fragmentation assay were used to detect variations of DNA in apoptotic cells. Annexin V/PI method was used to determine the cell membrane reversion, and fluorescence labeled inhibitor of Caspases (FLICA) was used to detect the active Caspase-3 in apoptotic cells. Cell morphology and Caspase-3 intra-localization were determined by confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MOLT-4 cells irradiated by 10 Gy X-ray presented classical apoptotic morphology changes such as membrane reversion, and apoptotic body. Caspase-3 was activated after irradiation, and increased remarkably after irradiated for 4 hours. Activated Caspase-3 moved from sub-membrane toward cytoplasm and nucleus. Caspase-3 activity was detected 2 hours earlier than membrane reversion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caspase-3 was activated in MOLT-4 cells induced by X-ray, and its intra-localization correlated with the apoptotic morphology changes. The spatial shift of active Caspase-3 in MOLT-4 cells induced by X-ray is one of the mechanisms of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030 PR China.
authors.forename: Yong-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Da-Xing
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ji-Chao
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yi-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Xiao-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: De-Ding
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jun-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases