[Influence of elemene on the expression of Bcl-2 family genes in rat C6 glioma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of elemene on the induction of apoptosis in rat C6 glioma cells and its influence on expression of Bcl-2 family genes.


METHODS
Rat C6 glioma cells were cultured. Elemene of the concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/ml were added for 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours respectively. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Bcl-2/Bcl-x/1 genes. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of Bcl-2/Bcl-x/1 genes. The apoptosis of the cells was examined by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The cell counts of the 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/ml elemene groups were 536 +/- 9, 375 +/- 10, 246 +/- 9, and 112 +/- 10/visual field respectively, all significantly lower than that of the 0 microg/ml elemene group (all F = 1292.416, P < 0.05) and the apoptotic rates of the 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/ml elemene groups were (27 +/- 2)%, (29 +/- 4)%, (32 +/- 3)%, and (35 +/- 5)% respectively with an Ap peak. The protein expression of Bcl-2/Bcl-x/l genes was decreased in the elemene groups dose and time-dependently. The expression of Bax protein was decreased in the elemene groups too, however, not dose and time-dependently.


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis caused by elemene may be associated with the down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bcl-x/l genes.
Xu
Ying-hui
YH
Department of Neurosurgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
Dong
Bin
B
Luo
Qi-zhong
QZ
Zhou
Hong-yu
HY
Jia
Yi-chang
YC
Yang
You-feng
YF
Wang
Yi-zheng
YZ
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C038905:elemene