Overexpression of anti-apoptotic gene BAG-1 in human cervical cancer

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process in which cells commit suicide under certain environmental conditions. Recent studies suggest that apoptos is is controlled by a variety of cellular genes, and dysregulation of these genes plays an important role in the pathogenesis of human diseases, inclu ding cancer. BAG-1 is a novel anti-apoptotic protein isolated by its intera ction with another anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. It binds to several hormo ne receptors and growth factor receptors and modulates their function in ap optosis. However, the role of BAG-1 in the oncogenesis of human cervical ca ncer has yet to be illustrated. In this study, we examined the expression o f BAG-1 in cervical normal and carcinoma cultured cells and tissues. BAG-1 was overexpressed in human cervical carcinoma cell lines and tissues. Overe xpression was regulated at the transcriptional level. The increased express ion of BAG-1 was correlated with enhanced resistance of cervical carcinoma cells to apoptosis induced by a DNA-damaging reagent. In addition, overexpr ession of BAG-1 enhanced the resistance of cervical cells to apoptosis. Thi s study provided the first evidence that BAG-1 is upregulated in human cerv ical cancer and may play an important role in apoptosis and human cervical carcinogenesis, (C) 1999 Academic Press.