Izvorni znanstveni članak
Overexpression of Caspase-9 Triggers Its Activation and Apoptosis in Vitro
Mirjam Druškovič
Dušan Šuput
Irina Milisav
Sažetak
Aim To investigate the consequences of increased expression of caspase-9: 1) whether the caspase-9 overexpression resulted in cell death through apoptosis, 2) whether apoptosis could be triggered in normal and tumor cells, and 3) what is the role of caspase-9 in the process.
Methods The caspase-9 fused to green fluorescent protein was expressed in primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells and of HeLa tumor cells. The expressed caspase-9 and the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells were determined using fluorescence microscopy.
Results Overexpression of caspase-9 resulted in cell death of primary pituitary cells and HeLa cells. More than 94% of the cells died of apoptosis, which was triggered by the activation of caspase-9, since the cell deaths were prevented in the presence of caspase-9 specific inhibitor. HeLa cells were about 50% more resistant to apoptosis than pituitary cells.
Conclusions Caspase-9 overexpression and its activation leads to apoptosis. It occurs both in normal and tumor cells. Since the majority of cancer therapy treatments initiate apoptosis through the caspase-9 activation, the modulation of caspase-9 expression may be exploited in designing new ways to control apoptosis in neurodegenerative or malignant diseases
Ključne riječi
caspase-9; caspase-9 activation; overexpression; apoptosis
Hrčak ID:
6324
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.12.2006.
Posjeta: 954 *