Expression of bcl-2 gene increases in apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells induced by rattlesnake venom

Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) has been induced by deprivati on of survival factors (aFGF and serum) and by rattlesnake venom. The expre ssion of bcl-2 gene has been examined by Northern blotting in the two apopt osis inducing systems. Our results show that the expression of bcl-2 has no t been detected in normal culture cells and in apoptotic cells induced by d eprivation of survival factors. But in apoptotic cells induced by rattlesna ke venom (10 mu g/mL), the expression of bcl-2 increases, and its mRNA exhi bits two bands. The data first suggest that increasing expression and split ting of bcl-2 mRNA may play an important role in apoptosis of VEC induced b y rattlesnake venom, and this finding is helpful to understanding the role of bcl-2 in regulation of apoptosis.