Chemosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703 is related to bcl-2 protein levels

Bcl-2 protein is one of the major apoptosis regulators, The study examines the effect of Bcl-2 protein on the chemosensitivity of a human hepatocellul ar carcinoma cell line, QGY-7703. Western blot analysis showed that Bcl-2 a nd Bar proteins were expressed in QGY-7703 cells. Characteristic features o f Taxol- and doxorubicin-induced apoptosis were evidenced by the Annexin-V binding assay, TUNEL and DAPI staining. At constant Bar protein levels, sta ble sense and antisense gene-transfected QGY-7703 cells showed that constit utive expression of Bcl-2 could render the cells more resistant to Taxol an d doxorubicin, Contrarily, decreased Bcl-2 levels caused the cells to be mo re sensitive to the drugs. As Bcl-2 levels are directly proportional to the resistance of QGY-7703 cells to Taxol and doxorubicin, manipulation of Bcl -2 could be performed to enhance the sensitivity of liver cancer to chemoth erapeutic agents. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.