Bcl-2 siRNA induced apoptosis and increased sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil and HCPT in HepG2 cells

J Drug Target. 2006 Jan;14(1):21-6. doi: 10.1080/10611860500527947.

Abstract

To investigate the changes in drug sensitivity of Bcl-2 siRNA transfected HepG2 cells. Bcl-2 siRNA and negative siRNA expression vector were constructed and stably transfected into HepG2 cells. RT-PCR and Immunofluorescence were used to detect the target gene expression. Western Blotting was used to detect Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 protein expressiom. Drug sensitivity of the cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) were analyzed with MTT and flow cytometry. Results were following: (1) the mRNA and protein expression level of Bcl-2 in Bcl-2 siRNA stable transfectants were reduced compared with negative siRNA transfected or untreated cells. Accordingly, Bax protein expression had no change and caspase-3 protein expression showed significantly be up regulated; (2) MTT results showed that Bcl-2 siRNA transfectants had higher cell inhibitory rates after treated with 5-FU or HCPT; (3) flow cytometry results demonstrated that sub G1 population increased in Bcl-2 siRNA transfected cells compared with negative siRNA or untreated cells. After addition 5-FU (1300 mg/l) and HCPT (0.72 mg/l), Bcl-2 siRNA cells showed higher sub G1 population than negative siRNA or untreated cells. siRNA targeting Bcl-2 gene can specifically down-regulate Bcl-2 expression, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio expression and caspase-3 activity in HepG2 cells, which lead to increase cells spontaneous apoptosis and sensitize cells to 5-FU or HCPT. Bcl-2 siRNA may be a potential therapy agent against human hepatoblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Camptothecin / pharmacology
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspases / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Synergism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology*
  • Genes, bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / biosynthesis
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • 10-hydroxycamptothecin
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspases
  • thiazolyl blue
  • Fluorouracil
  • Camptothecin