Gene expression pattern in apoptotic QGY-7703 cells induced by homoharringtonine.
OBJECTIVE
To classify the genes responsible for apoptosis in QGY-7703 cells induced by homoharringtonine (HHT).


METHODS
Apoptosis in QGY-7703 cells induced by HHT was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation and morphological observation. cDNA microarray technology was used to detect gene transcription, and the result of microarrays for genes was confirmed by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight individual mRNA were identified and their transcription levels changed significantly. Those genes, of which 68% were upregulated and 32% were downregulated, were partially related to apoptosis. They were mostly oncogenes, tumor suppressors, enzymes, and kinases.


CONCLUSIONS
HHT is a potential drug in the treatment of liver cancer. TGF-beta, TNF, FAS, p38MAPK, and p53 apoptosis signaling pathways were activated during apoptosis in QGY-7703 cells. Such inducible genes may play important roles in apoptosis and deserve to be further studied.
Jin
Wei
W
Breast Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Institute of Biomedical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. zhimingshao@yahoo.com
Qu
Le-Feng
LF
Chen
Qin
Q
Chang
Xin-Zhong
XZ
Wu
Jiong
J
Shao
Zhi-Min
ZM
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006248:Harringtonines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077863:Homoharringtonine; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006248:Harringtonines; D000077863:Homoharringtonine