Antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line BEL—7404

Effects of antisense epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sequence on apoptotic cell death were examined in a human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404 cells.In the cells of JX-1,a sub clone of BEL-7404 stably transfected with antisense EGFR vector (Cell Research,3:75,1993),an enhanced rate(9.5%) of spontaneous apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,whereas the rates of spontaneous apoptosis in JX-0 cells,a sub-clone of BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 transfected by control vector,and the parent BEL-7404 cells were almost equal and about 1.7%.Serum-starvation for 72h increased the rate of apoptosis of JX-lcells up to 33.7%,while JX-0 and BEL-7404 cells,under the same condition,produced less than 5% of apoptotic cells.Observation with electron microscope demonstrated that condensation and fragmentation of chromatin and formation of apoptotic bodies often occurred in JX-1 cells,especially during serumstarvation.These results,combined with the data of DNA fragmentation Elisa test,suggested that antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in the human hepatoma cells.Comparison of intracellular Ca^2 level and the responsiveness of JX-1 cells to the induced action of EGF and tharpsigargin (TG) treatment with that of control JX-0 cells indicated that antisense egfr might interrupt the EGF/EGFR sigaling pathway resulting in the decreass of intracellular Ca^2 pool content as well as the responsiveness of these cells to the extracellular signals.These findings suggest that antisense EGFR either directly or indirectly regulates Ca^2 storage in endoplasmic reticulum,thereby enhances apoptosis in the human hepatoma cells.

Antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404

Effects of antisense epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sequence on apoptotic cell death were examined in a human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404 cells. In the cells of JX-1, a sub clone of BEL-7404 stably transfected with antisense EGFR vector (Cell Research, 3:75, 1993), an enhanced rate (9.5%) of spontaneous apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, whereas the rates of spontaneous apoptosis in JX-0 cells, a sub-clone of BEL-7404 transfected by control vector, and the parellt BEL-7404 cells were almost equal and about 1.7%. Serum-starvation for 72 h increased the rate of apoptosis of JX-1cells up to 33.7%, while JX-0 and BEL-7404 cells, under the same condition, produced less than 5% of apoptotic cells. Observation with electron microscope demonstrated that condensation and fragmentation of chromatin and formation of apoptotic bodies of ten occurred in JX-1 cells, especially during serumstarvation. These results, combined with the data of DNA fragmentation Elisa test, suggested that antisense EGFR sequence enhances apoptosis in the human hepatoma cells.Comparison of intracellular Ca2 level and the responsiveness of JX-1 cells to the induced action of EGF and tharpsigargin (TG) treatment with that of control JX-0cells indicated that antisense EGFR might interrupt the EGF/EGFR signaling pathway resulting in the decreass of intracellular Ca2 pool content as well as the responsiveness of these cells to the extracellular signals. These findings suggest that antisense EGFR either directly or indirectly reglllates Ca2 storage in endoplasmic reticulum,thereby enhances apoptosis in the hnman hepatoma cells.