共表达人p53、GM-CSF和B7-1基因的重组腺病毒的构建

 为开展肿瘤的复合基因治疗 ,构建以串联方式携带人野生型p53、GM CSF和B7 1基因的重组腺病毒穿梭质粒pBB 1 0 2 .将pBB 1 0 2与腺病毒包装质粒GT40 50共转染 2 93细胞 ,通过细胞内同源重组获得重组腺病毒BB 1 0 2 .在 2 93细胞中扩增病毒 ,并通过氯化铯密度梯度超速离心纯化病毒 ,获得高滴度和高纯度的病毒 .分别经免疫组织化学分析、ELISA和流式细胞分析 ,检测BB 1 0 2介导的人野生型p53、GM CSF和B7 1基因在喉癌细胞Hep 2中的表达 .结果表明 ,BB 1 0 2能够有效地将其所携带的目的基因导入Hep 2细胞并使其在细胞中高效表达 ,表达高峰期为转染后 2～ 4d ,此后随时间递减 ,可持续 1 0d以上 .     

重组腺病毒介导人野生型p53和B7-1基因诱导喉癌细胞凋亡并增强其免疫原性

为开展喉癌的复合基因治疗,观察共表达人野生型p53和B7-1基因的重组腺病毒Ad-p53/B7-1对喉癌细胞增殖及免疫原性的影响,检测到Ad-p53/B7-1介导的人野生型p53基因可抑制喉癌细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡,同时B7-1基因的导入可增强喉癌细胞的免疫原性基因修饰的癌细胞可刺激自体肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞增殖,并诱导外周血淋巴细胞形成对肿瘤具有特异杀伤性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞。     

H5N1禽流感病毒HA和NA基因重组腺病毒共表达载体的构建

利用口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)2A蛋白具有自我裂解的功能,将其作为连接肽构建携带有H5N1亚型AIVHA和NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,进而为AIV基因工程疫苗的开发以及相关诊断试剂的开发提供依据。采用融合PCR的方法扩增出含有H5N1 AIV HA-2A-NA的基因,定向插入pAdtrack-CMV腺病毒穿梭质粒中,含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy-1在基因工程菌BJ5183中进行同源重组,获得腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA,将pAdeasyd-H5经PacI线性化后转染HEK293细胞株包装出含有HA-2A-NA基因的腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA。结果表明,构建的含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA和含有目的基因的腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA经PCR、双酶切及核苷酸测序测定无误。线性化后的pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA转染HEK293细胞包装成功获得腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA载体,经绿色荧光蛋白和RT-PCR分析证实,目的基因在该细胞中成功表达。本试验构建的含有AIV H5N1亚型HA-2A-NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,将为进一步研究开发基因工程疫苗提供病毒模型。     

携带红色荧光蛋白报告基因的重组腺病毒载体的构建

目的采用体外连接技术构建含红色荧光蛋白(RFP)报告基因的重组腺病毒载体,为基因治疗与基因疫苗研究提供重要工具。方法将pTurbo RFP-N上的含红色荧光蛋白基因片段,经酶切连接定向克隆至转移载体pShuttle上,构成重组质粒pShuttle-TurboRFP-N。用I-CeuI/PI-SceI双酶切重组质粒pShuttle-TurboRFP-N和骨架质粒pH5′040 pkGFP-II,回收目的片段,连接,获得重组腺病毒载体pH5.′040.CMV.RFP-N。将其线性化后,经脂质体介导转染至AD293细胞内包装出重组腺病毒颗粒。通过荧光显微镜观察其在AD293细胞内的包装效率和RFP表达情况。扩增并再次感染AD293细胞检测病毒颗粒感染能力,并测定其生物活性及滴度。结果经酶切鉴定,证明已正确构建重组腺病毒载体AdH5.′040.CMV.RFP-N;经AD293细胞包装成具有感染性的病毒颗粒,并能在真核细胞中高效表达目的基因;扩增纯化后获得重组腺病毒颗粒数为3.6×1012vp/mL,滴度达1×1010pfu/mL。结论成功构建了携带红色荧光蛋白报告基因的重组腺病毒载体,并能够在AD293细胞中高效地表达,为基因治疗与基因疫苗研究提供重要工具。     

重组p16腺病毒的构建及其对人白血病细胞的抑制作用

为了探讨腺病毒载体用于基因治疗的可行性及野生型 p1 6基因的抗肿瘤特性 ,构建了复制缺陷型重组 p1 6腺病毒 .首先将 p1 6全长 c DNA插入穿梭质粒 p Ad CMV产生重组质粒 p Ad-CMV- p1 6,然后通过脂质体介导与 p JM1 7共转染 2 93细胞 ,经同源重组产生 E1区缺失的重组腺病毒空斑 .用纯化后的腺病毒感染人白血病细胞株 HL- 60后 ,PCR及 Western blot分析显示在感染细胞中有外源性 p1 6 c DNA存在和 p1 6蛋白表达 ;被感染的 HL- 60细胞的生长受到明显抑制 ,而未感染细胞及对照腺病毒感染的细胞没有受到抑制 .结果表明 ,腺病毒作为一种新型基因转移载体 ,可有效地介导肿瘤抑制基因 p1 6的表达 ,在肿瘤基因治疗方面具有很大的应用前景 .     

多靶点复合抗原抗肿瘤基因疫苗的构建及真核表达

目的：构建含有人存活蛋白（survivin）-2B主要T细胞表位区域、人和猴绒毛膜促性腺激素β链的核心片段CTP37区域融合基因的真核表达质粒,并在人胚肾293T细胞中进行表达。方法：通过基因合成和搭桥PCR技术构建含有Survivin2B主要T细胞表位区域、人和猴CTP37区域基因的融合基因2PAG,将其插入含有人IgK链前导信号肽（sig）、人IgG-Fc和糖基磷脂酰肌醇（GPI）锚定信号肽融合基因序列的细胞膜锚定修饰真核表达载体pCI—Fc—GPI中,继而又将酶切后的sig2PAG-FC-GPI融合基因导入含有细小病毒内部核糖体结合位点（IRES）基因且可以共表达人GM-CSF和B7．1融合基因的真核表达载体pVAX1-IRES-GM／B7中;将构建的重组质粒pVAX1-sig-2PAG-FC-GPI-GM／B7（简称pVAX1-2PFcGB）转染293T细胞,利用流式细胞仪和免疫荧光检测其表达情况。结果：2PAG融合基因经测序正确,PCR和酶切鉴定证明已成功连入真核表达载体pVAX-IRES-GM／B7中;流式细胞仪和免疫荧光的检测结果显示,重组质粒pVAX1-2PFcGB在293T细胞中得到很好的表达。结论：成功构建了重组质粒pVAX1-2PFcGB,且在293T细胞中可以有效表达,为对该基因疫苗的后续功能研究奠定了基础。     

细菌内同源重组法制备FMDV聚蛋白编码基因重组腺病毒

采用PCR方法从重组质粒pMD18_T/PP中扩增出FMDV的聚蛋白(PP)编码基因,再亚克隆至腺病毒穿梭质粒中,形成重组穿梭质粒rpAd_CMV/PP;将获得的重组穿梭质粒与腺病毒骨架载体通过在大肠杆菌内质粒间同源重组获得重组腺病毒质粒rpAd/PP。将腺病毒载体线性化后用脂质体介导转染293细胞从而获得含有口蹄疫病毒PP编码基因的重组腺病毒。通过倒置显微镜观测,可见明显的细胞病变,利用荧光显微镜可观测到报告基因绿色荧光蛋白的表达,并在电镜下观察到FMDV的空衣壳。结果证明已成功获得了含有口蹄疫病毒PP编码基因的重组腺病毒rAd/PP,并成功表达组装FMDV空衣壳,为FMDV腺病毒活载体疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

人成纤维细胞生长因子受体2IIIc及其突变型重组腺病毒的获得和在乳腺癌细胞中的表达

获得人成纤维细胞生长因子受体2Ⅲc(FGFR2Ⅲc)及其S252W突变型重组腺病毒,感染乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,为下一步研究FGFR2Ⅲc基因的功能和作用机制奠定基础。以本实验室保存的含FGFR2Ⅲc基因的质粒为模板,PCR扩增得到FGFR2Ⅲc基因,重叠延伸法PCR获得FGFR2ⅢcS252W突变型基因;分别将上述野生型和突变型基因克隆至腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdTrack-CMV上,得到重组穿梭质粒pAdTrack-FGFR2Ⅲc和pAdTrack-FGFR2ⅢcS252W,DNA测序证实。Pme I酶切后分别与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdEasy-1共转化BJ-5183感受态细菌同源重组,得到的重组表达质粒Ad-FGFR2Ⅲc和Ad-FGFR2ⅢcS252W Pac I酶切线性化后转染HEK293A细胞进行重组腺病毒的包装和扩增,通过GFP报告基因观察病毒表达情况。收集重组病毒颗粒并测定滴度,进一步感染乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,RT-PCR和Western blotting方法检测目的基因的表达,3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐(MTT)法和流式细胞术分析细胞增殖情况。结果表明,成功构建了人FGFR2Ⅲc及其S252W突变型基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,获得的重组腺病毒颗粒能高效感染MDA-MB-231细胞,并表达目的基因。MTT结果显示FGFR2Ⅲc和S252W均能抑制MDA-MB-231细胞增殖,S252W抑制效果更加明显。流式细胞术表明FGFR2Ⅲc和S252W均能使MDA-MB-231细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期,抑制细胞增殖。     

人成纤维细胞生长因子受体2Ⅲc及其突变型重组腺病毒的获得和在乳腺癌细胞中的表达

获得人成纤维细胞生长因子受体2Ⅲc(FGFR2Ⅲc)及其S252W突变型重组腺病毒,感染乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,为下一步研究FGFR2Ⅲc基因的功能和作用机制奠定基础。以本实验室保存的含FGFR2Ⅲc基因的质粒为模板,PCR扩增得到FGFR2Ⅲc基因,重叠延伸法PCR获得FGFR2ⅢcS252W突变型基因;分别将上述野生型和突变型基因克隆至腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdTrack-CMV上,得到重组穿梭质粒pAdTrack-FGFR2Ⅲc和pAdTrack-FGFR2ⅢcS252W,DNA测序证实。Pme I酶切后分别与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdEasy-1共转化BJ-5183感受态细菌同源重组,得到的重组表达质粒Ad-FGFR2Ⅲc和Ad-FGFR2ⅢcS252W Pac I酶切线性化后转染HEK293A细胞进行重组腺病毒的包装和扩增,通过GFP报告基因观察病毒表达情况。收集重组病毒颗粒并测定滴度,进一步感染乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,RT-PCR和Western blotting方法检测目的基因的表达,3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐(MTT)法和流式细胞术分析细胞增殖情况。结果表明,成功构建了人FGFR2Ⅲc及其S252W突变型基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,获得的重组腺病毒颗粒能高效感染MDA-MB-231细胞,并表达目的基因。MTT结果显示FGFR2Ⅲc和S252W均能抑制MDA-MB-231细胞增殖,S252W抑制效果更加明显。流式细胞术表明FGFR2Ⅲc和S252W均能使MDA-MB-231细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期,抑制细胞增殖。     

重组B7—2腺病毒的构建及鉴定

经聚合酶链式反应扩增出鼠源性B7－2基因,克隆在pAdCMV中,将此重组载体与质粒JM17共转染293细胞,进行同源重组,并经聚合酶链式反应筛途、鉴定重组腺病毒,结果成功地构建了两株重组B7—2腺病毒,在293细胞中大量扩增此重组病毒,并对腺病毒上清进行空斑纯化和CsCL递度离心。空斑评价法测定纯化后两株重组mB7—2腺病毒的病毒滴度分别为4．2×109PFU／ml和3．6×109PFU／ml     

Adenoviral-mediated transfer of human wild-type p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 genes results in growth suppression and autologous anti-tumor cytotoxicity of multiple myeloma cells in vitro

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite the use of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. However, immunotherapy is expected to offer long-term disease control, or even possibly a cure. We have previously demonstrated the suppressive effect of a recombinant adenovirus carrying human wild-type p53, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and B7-1 genes (Ad-p53/GM-CSF/B7-1) on the growth of laryngeal cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of an Ad-p53/GM-CSF/B7-1-modified myeloma cell vaccine strategy aimed to induce apoptosis and to augment the immunogenicity of MM cells. Both MM cell lines and purified primary myeloma cells were infected with Ad-p53/GM-CSF/B7-1. High expression levels of these three genes were confirmed separately by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry. When wild-type p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 genes were introduced, the growth of MM cells was inhibited via enhanced apoptosis and the immunogenicity of tumor cells was augmented. The combinatorial effect of these three genes on inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was more evident than that of p53 individually or any combinations of two (p53 plus GM-CSF or p53 plus B7-1). Furthermore, significant proliferation of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and specific cytotoxicity against autologous primary MM cells were induced in vitro. These results suggest that myeloma cell vaccination co-transferred with p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 genes may be a promising immunotherapeutic approach against MM.     

The role of extracellular and cytoplasmic splice domains of alpha7-integrin in cell adhesion and migration on laminins

The major laminin-binding integrin of skeletal, smooth, and heart muscle is alpha7beta1-integrin, which is structurally related to alpha6beta1. It occurs in three cytoplasmic splice variants (alpha7A, -B, and -C) and two extracellular forms (X1 and X2) which are developmentally regulated and differentially expressed in skeletal muscle. Previously, we have shown that ectopic expression of the alpha7beta-integrin splice variant in nonmotile HEK293 cells specifically induced cell locomotion on laminin-1 but not on fibronectin. To investigate the specificity and the mechanism of the alpha7-mediated cell motility, we expressed the three alpha7-chain cytoplasmic splice variants, as well as alpha6A- and alpha6B-integrin subunits in HEK293 cells. Here we show that all three alpha7 splice variants (containing the X2 domain), as well as alpha6A and alpha6B, promote cell attachment and stimulate cell motility on laminin-1 and its E8 fragment. Deletion of the cytoplasmic domain (excluding the GFFKR consensus sequence) from alpha7B resulted in a loss of the motility-enhancing effect. On laminin-2/4 (merosin), the predominant isoform in mature skeletal muscle, only alpha7-expressing cells showed enhanced motility, whereas cells transfected with alpha6A and alpha6B neither attached nor migrated on laminin-2. Adhesion of alpha7-expressing cells to both laminin-1 and laminin-2 was specifically inhibited by a new monoclonal antibody (6A11) specific for alpha7. Expression of the two extracellular splice variants alpha7X1 and alpha7X2 in HEK293 cells conferred different motilities on laminin isoforms: Whereas alpha7X2B promoted cell migration on both laminin-1 and laminin-2, alpha7X1B supported motility only on laminin-2 and not on laminin-1, although both X1 and X2 splice variants revealed similar adhesion rates to laminin-1 and -2. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis revealed a dramatic reduction of surface expression of alpha6-integrin subunits after alpha7A or -B transfection; also, surface expression of alpha1-, alpha3-, and alpha5-integrins was significantly reduced. These results demonstrate selective responses of alpha6- and alpha7-integrins and of the alpha7 splice variants to laminin-1 and -2 and indicate differential roles in laminin-controlled cell adhesion and migration.     

Variants of adenovirus type 5 with deletions in early genes: ability for selective replication in p53-defective human tumor cells

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) variants defective in E1A or E1B. Mutant Adel3 with deletion from E1A was markedly attenuated in permissive cell cultures regardless of the p53 status, and replicated efficiently only in cells of the complementing 293 line. Mutant Adel2 with deletion from E1B55K infected the 293 line cells and p53-deficient human tumor cells (A431, SW480, HEp2) with efficiencies similar to those of Ad5, whereas its replication in normal p53-positive cells was substantially limited. Thus, Adel2 proved to be capable of selective infection and lysis of p53-deficient human tumor cells in vitro. On intratumor injection, Adel2 dramatically suppressed the growth of human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) in nude mice. Adel2 is thus a promising model for designing therapeutic agents against p53-deficient human tumors.     

重组表达小鼠MIP-1α和B7-1基因的慢病毒载体的构建及鉴定

目的构建重组表达小鼠MIP-1α和B7-1基因的慢病毒载体,为淋巴瘤基因治疗的实验研究奠定基础。方法设计引物扩增获得目的基因小鼠MIP-1α和B7-1基因的全长编码序列cDNA,将目的基因与经酶切线性化的慢病毒载体进行定向连接,其产物转化感受态细胞,对长出的阳性克隆进行PCR鉴定和直接测序序列分析。MIP-1α和B7-1目的基因质粒转染293T细胞,观察绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）表达,采用Western Blot法检测其蛋白表达,实时荧光定量PCR,检测慢病毒浓缩液的滴度。结果成功构建了重组表达小鼠MIP-1α和B7-1基因的慢病毒载体,实时荧光定量PCR证实MIP-1α、B7-1基因重组慢病毒载体的滴度均达2.00E＋8 TU/mL。结论本研究成功构建并包装出高滴度的小鼠MIP-1α和B7-1基因重组慢病毒载体,为淋巴瘤基因治疗的实验研究奠定了基础。     

Roles of Src and epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation in transient and sustained ERK1/2 responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor activation

The duration as well as the magnitude of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation has been proposed to regulate gene expression and other specific intracellular responses in individual cell types. Activation of ERK1/2 by the hypothalamic neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is relatively sustained in alpha T3-1 pituitary gonadotropes and HEK293 cells but is transient in immortalized GT1-7 neurons. Each of these cell types expresses the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and responds to EGF stimulation with significant but transient ERK1/2 phosphorylation. However, GnRH-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation caused by EGFR transactivation was confined to GT1-7 cells and was attenuated by EGFR kinase inhibition. Neither EGF nor GnRH receptor activation caused translocation of phospho-ERK1/2 into the nucleus in GT1-7 cells. In contrast, agonist stimulation of GnRH receptors expressed in HEK293 cells caused sustained phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of ERK1/2 by a protein kinase C-dependent but EGFR-independent pathway. GnRH-induced activation of ERK1/2 was attenuated by the selective Src kinase inhibitor PP2 and the negative regulatory C-terminal Src kinase in GT1-7 cells but not in HEK293 cells. In GT1-7 cells, GnRH stimulated phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the ERK1/2-dependent protein, p90RSK-1 (RSK-1). These results indicate that the duration of ERK1/2 activation depends on the signaling pathways utilized by GnRH in specific target cells. Whereas activation of the Gq/protein kinase C pathway in HEK293 cells causes sustained phosphorylation and translocation of ERK1/2 to the nucleus, transactivation of the EGFR by GnRH in GT1-7 cells elicits transient ERK1/2 signals without nuclear accumulation. These findings suggest that transactivation of the tightly regulated EGFR can account for the transient ERK1/2 responses that are elicited by stimulation of certain G protein-coupled receptors.     

p14ARF inhibits the growth of p53 deficient cells in a cell-specific manner

While p14(ARF) suppression of tumorigenesis in a p53-dependent manner is well studied, the mechanism by which p14(ARF) inhibits tumorigenesis independently of p53 remains elusive. A variety of factors have been reported to play a role in this latter process. We report here that p14(ARF) displays different effects on the anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of p53-null/Mdm2 wild type cells. p14(ARF) blocks both the anchorage-dependent and-independent (soft agar) proliferation of 293T and p53(-/-) HCT116, but not p53-null H1299 lung carcinoma cells. While p14(ARF) had no effect on the anchorage-dependent proliferation of p53(-/-) MEFs and Ras12V-transformed p53(-/-) MEFs, it inhibited the growth of Ras12V-transformed p53(-/-) MEFs in soft agar. Furthermore, ectopic expression of p14(ARF) did not lead to degradation of the E2F1 protein and did not result in the reduction of E2F1 activity detected by two E2F1 responsible promoters, Apaf1 and p14(ARF) promoter, in 293T, p53(-/-) HCT116, and H1299 cells. This is consistent with our observations that p14(ARF) did not result in G1 arrest, but induced apoptosis via Bax up-regulation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the response of p53-null cells to ARF is cell type dependent and involves factors other than Mdm2 and E2F1.     

The regulation of p53, p38 MAPK,JNK and XBP-1s by sphingosine kinases in human embryonic kidney cells

Since inhibitors of sphingosine kinases (SK1, SK2) have been shown to induce p53-mediated cell death, we have further investigated their role in regulating p53, stress activated protein kinases and XBP-1s in HEK293T cells. Treatment of these cells with the sphingosine kinase inhibitor, SKi, which fails to induce apoptosis, promoted the conversion of p53 into two proteins with molecular masses of 63 and 90 kDa, and which was enhanced by over-expression of ubiquitin. The SKi induced conversion of p53 to p63/p90 was also enhanced by siRNA knockdown of SK1, but not SK2 or dihydroceramide desaturase (Degs1), suggesting that SK1 is a negative regulator of this process. In contrast, another sphingosine kinase inhibitor, ABC294640 only very weakly stimulated formation of p63/p90 and induced apoptosis of HEK293T cells. We have previously shown that SKi promotes the polyubiquitination of Degs1, and these forms positively regulate p38 MAPK/JNK pathways to promote HEK293T cell survival/growth. siRNA knockdown of SK1 enhanced the activation of p38 MAPK/JNK pathways in response to SKi, suggesting that SK1 functions to oppose these pro-survival pathways in HEK293T cells. SKi also enhanced the stimulatory effect of the proteasome inhibitor, MG132 on the expression of the pro-survival protein XBP-1s and this was reduced by siRNA knockdown of SK2 and increased by knockdown of p53. These findings suggest that SK1 and SK2 have opposing roles in regulating p53-dependent function in HEK293T cells.     

Expression of apoptosis and cell cycle related genes in proliferating and colcemid arrested cells of divergent lineage.

Progression through the cell cycle and redirection of cells towards programmed cell death (apoptosis) are tightly inter-related processes. However the requirement for tissue and cell type specificity suggests that a wide variety of mechanisms are used to achieve the same purpose. To examine this issue, we investigated cell cycle (c-myc, p53, p21/WAF) and apoptosis related (bcl-2, bcl-X(L), bax-alpha) gene expression in two cell lines of very different origin under proliferating and apoptosis-inducing conditions. Transformed human osteosarcoma cells (MG63) and non-transformed human kidney embryonal fibroblasts (293-0) were kept in culture in medium containing 10% FCS and growth arrest was induced by the addition of 50 ng/ml colcemid. Colcemid treatment caused growth arrest and elevated expression of cyclin B1 protein in both cell lines. Apoptosis was significantly elevated in both cell lines after colcemid exposure for at least one cell cycle. However the pattern of expression of cell cycle and apoptosis related genes, determined by RT-PCR, was quite different between the two cell lines during exponential growth and cell cycle arrest. Colcemid treatment did not markedly influence c-myc, p53 and p21/WAF expression in MG63 cells but did suppress c-myc and increase p21/WAF in 293-0 cells. Furthermore colcemid treated MG63 cells exhibited elevated bcl-2 and bax-alpha expression while similar treatment of 293-0 cells resulted in decreased bcl-X(L) and slightly increased bax-alpha expression. While growth arrest and apoptosis were induced in both MG63 and 293 cells following colcemid treatment, the differences in gene expression suggest that the mechanism by which these cells determine cell fate is quite different and may determine the sensitivity of different cell populations to anti-neoplastic drug therapy. The distinct patterns of gene expression should be carefully defined before mechanisms of apoptotic cell death are studied.