Implication of Bcl-2 family genes in basal and D-amphetamine-induced apoptosis in preneoplastic and neoplastic rat liver lesions

Molecular mechanisms of basal and D-amphetamine (AMPH)-induced apoptosis we re studied in rat liver nodules, 12 (N12) and 30 (N30) weeks after initiati on, and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats subjected to resistant hepatocyte model. Basal apoptosis in hematoxyli n/eosin- and propidium iodide-stained sections was higher in nodules and HC C than in normal livers. It sharply increased in all tissues 4 hours after AMPH treatment (10 mg/kg), and declined to basal levels at 8 to 12 hours in liver and N12, but remained high up to 18 hours in N30 and HCC. c-myc, Tgf -alpha, p53, and Bcl-X-s messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were higher, and Bcl-2 mRNA was lower in N12 and/or N30 and HCC than in normal liver. Four hours after AMPH injection, increase in c-myc and decreases in Bcl-2 and Bcl-X-L mRNAs occurred in all tissues, whereas p53, Bax, and Bcl-X-5 mRNAs increase d in N30 and HCC. These changes disappeared in liver and N12 at 18 hours, b ut persisted in N30 and HCC. c-Myc, P53, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins in normal liver and HCC +/- AMPH showed similar patterns. Tgf-beta 1, Tgf-beta-RIII, CD95, and CD95L mRNA levels underwent slight or no changes in any tissue +/ - AMPH. Basal Hsp27 expression was high in nodules and HCC, and was stimula ted by AMPH in liver and N12, but not in N30 and HCC. These data suggest a role of dysregulation of Bcl-2 family genes and, at least in atypical lesio ns, of p53 overexpression, in basal and AMPH-induced apoptosis in nodules a nd HCCs. Hsp27 does not appear to sufficiently protect atypical lesions aga inst apoptosis.