Overexpression of Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) induces cell transformation in NIH3T3 cells.
BI-1 (Bax inhibitor-1), an apoptosis-inhibiting gene belonging to the Bcl-2 protein family, plays an important role in mitochondrial apoptosis pathway to suppress Bax-induced apoptosis. To investigate the potential role of BI-1 in promoting cell growth and tumorigenesis, in the present study we overexpressed the BI-1 gene in NIH3T3 cells using the lentivirus-mediated gene expression system. Our in vitro studies showed that NIH3T3 cells overexpressing BI-1 displayed a significantly higher growth rate and formed more and larger colonies than the control cells. In addition, our in vivo studies indicated that the lenti-BI-1-infected cells formed obvious tumours, while no tumours were formed by the control cells after subcutaneously injected into nude mice. These results strongly suggested that the BI-1 gene might play a crucial role in neoplastic genesis and development.
Xiang-yong
Li
L
Center of Clinical Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China. xyli75@126.com
Yang-chao
Chen
C
Ke-yuan
Zhou
Z
Mei-hong
Zhang
Z
Hai-qing
Luo
L
Hsiang-fu
Kung
K
Xin
Zhou
Z
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D014162:Transfection
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins