title: The effects of polyethylenimine/DNA nanoparticle on transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer commonly used in gene transfer. Although numerous investigations have indicated that PEI can induce apoptosis/necrosis but the mechanism of its cytotoxicity is still poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PEI/DNA complexes on the expression of apoptotic genes in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT29).
  
  
  METHODS
  HT29 cells were exposed to PEI/DNA complex (C/P = 0.8) for 24 h. Then, qRT PCR was used to assess the expression of 26 apoptotic-related genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of the transcript level of genes revealed that while the expression of anti-apoptotic genes such as Bclx, Bcl2, NFkB, and AIF was not significantly reduced but the expression of pro-apoptotic genes such as Fasl, Bax, TNFR1, DR4, Casp8, and cytochrome C was considerably increased in transfected HT29 cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that PEI could increase the level of pro-apoptotic genes and decrease antiapoptotic genes as a possible mechanism involved in PEI cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Genetics , Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Iran.|c Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pishavar
authors.affiliation: a Department of Genetics , Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafiei
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology , Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: Soghra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehri
authors.affiliation: c Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.|d Nanotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran , and.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramezani
authors.affiliation: c Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.|e Medicinal Chemistry Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abnous
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011094:Polyethyleneimine
keywords: Polyethylenimine; apoptosis; cytotoxicity; gene transfer