Arsenic trioxide induces gallbladder carcinoma cell apoptosis via downregulation of Bcl-2.
Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), an aggressive and mostly lethal malignancy, is known to be resistant to a number of apoptotic stimuli. Here, we report for the first time the pro-apoptosis role of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in gallbladder carcinoma and identify the contribution of Bcl-2 in the As2O3-induced apoptosis. The treatment of As2O3 in gallbladder carcinoma cells could induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and downregulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 at mRNA level. Moreover, Bcl-2 overexpression could protect gallbladder carcinoma cells from As2O3-induced apoptosis, indicating the contribution of Bcl-2 in As2O3-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that arsenic trioxide induces gallbladder carcinoma cell apoptosis via downregulation of Bcl-2, which may have important therapeutic implications in gallbladder carcinoma patients.
Ai
Zhilong
Z
Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
Lu
Weiqi
W
Qin
Xinyu
X
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide