[Apoptosis induced by cadmium and the expression of bcl-2 and p53 genes in LLC-PK1 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of cadmium on the apoptosis of porcine renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (LLC-PK1) and the relationships between the apoptosis and gene expression of the bcl-2 and mutant p53 (mtp53) protein.


METHODS
Apoptotic bodies were examined by electron microscopy, the rates of apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and DNA ladder was detected by DNA gel electrophoresis. The expressions of bcl-2 and mtp53 were measured respectively by FCM.


RESULTS
The apoptotic bodies of LLC-PK1 cells treated with CdCl2 at dose of 40 micromol/L for 12 h were observed by electron microscopy and the apoptosis rates of LLC-PK1 cells were 32.61%, which were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Apparent DNA ladder was showed by DNA gel electrophoresis. LLC-PK1 cells were incubated with CdCl2 at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40 micromol/L for 4 h or 8 h, it was found that expressions of bcl-2 and mtp53 were decreased and where a significant dose-response was found (r = -0.910 for bcl-2 8 h, r = -0.716, -0.972 for mtp53 4 h, 8 h, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results were suggested that the apoptosis of LLC-PK1 cells induced by cadmium might be associated with the inhibitions of the expression of bcl-2 and p53.
Cai
Yunqing
Y
School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Ren
Xiangmei
X
Xu
Dongqing
D
Wang
Mingyan
M
Wu
Xiaoli
X
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression; D018374:LLC-PK1 Cells; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D002104:Cadmium