title: Hedgehog signaling regulates the survival of gastric cancer cells by regulating the expression of Bcl-2.
abstract: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The underlying molecular mechanisms of its carcinogenesis are relatively poorly characterized. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which is critical for development of various organs including the gastrointestinal tract, has been associated with gastric cancer. The present study was undertaken to reveal the underlying mechanism by which Hh signaling controls gastric cancer cell proliferation. Treatment of gastric cancer cells with cyclopamine, a specific inhibitor of Hh signaling pathway, reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Cyclopamine treatment induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria and cleavage of caspase 9. Moreover, Bcl-2 expression was significantly reduced by cyclopamine treatment. These results suggest that Hh signaling regulates the survival of gastric cancer cells by regulating the expression of Bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.|Medical Research Center for Ischemic Tissue Regeneration, Pusan National University, Beomeo-Ri, Mulgeum-Eup, Yangsan, 626-770, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Eun
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Seon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.|Medical Research Center for Ischemic Tissue Regeneration, Pusan National University, Beomeo-Ri, Mulgeum-Eup, Yangsan, 626-770, Korea.
authors.forename: Sae-Ock
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids; C000541:cyclopamine