Expression of bcl-2 and p53 in Induction of Esophageal Cancer Cell Apoptosis by ECRG2 in Combination with Cisplatin

Hai-Yan Song,Li Zhou,Guo-Yan Yuan,Xiao-Hui Deng,Zhen-Dong Zhu,Xin-Fang Hou,Ming-Xin Ren

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.3.1397

Hai-Yan Song, Li Zhou + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.3.1397

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Abstract

To investigate the mechanisms of induction of apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells by esophageal cancer-related gene 2 (ECRG2) in combination with cisplatin (DDP). Hoechest staining was performed to analyze the effects of single ECRG2 and ECRG2 in combination with DDP on apoptosis of EC9706 cells. The expression levels of p53 and bcl-2 mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The number of apoptotic cells after the treatment with ECRG2 in combination with DDP for 24 hours was more than that after the treatment with single ECRG2. RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the expression levels of bcl-2 mRNA and protein were both down-regulated, while p53 mRNA and protein were both up-regulated in the cells treated with ECRG2 in combination with DDP compared with those given ECRG2 alone. ECRG2 in combination with DDP can enhance the apoptosis of EC9706 cells, possibly by down-regulating bcl-2 expression and up-regulating p53.

Highlights

Esophageal cancer, one of the common malignancies with the highest morbidity and mortality, is a major cause of death worldwide (Jemal et al, 2011)
RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the expression levels of bcl-2 mRNA and protein were both down-regulated, while p53 mRNA and protein were both up-regulated in the cells treated with esophageal cancer-related gene 2 (ECRG2) in combination with DDP compared with those given ECRG2 alone
RT-PCR analysis showed that ECRG2 mRNA is expressed in esophageal tissues and a variety of other normal tissues, but its expression level is lower in the esophageal cancer tissues (Su et al, 1998)

Summary

Introduction

Esophageal cancer, one of the common malignancies with the highest morbidity and mortality, is a major cause of death worldwide (Jemal et al, 2011). There was report (Su et al, 2012) showed that combination of nedaplatin and cisplatin at low concentrations were more effective for inhibition of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis in the Eca-109 (esophageal carcinoma cell line) and the expressions of bcl-2 mRNA and protein were decreased. The combined effects of DDP and ECRG2 in the treatment of esophageal cancer are rarely investigated. Our data demonstrated that ECRG2 in combination with DDP enhanced cell apoptosis in human esophageal cancer cell line EC9706, comparing with ECRG2 alone. This efficacy might result from the expression altering of apoptosis-related gene

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