PMID: 15375604Sep 18, 2004Paper

Bax is an important determinant for radiation sensitivity in esophageal carcinoma cells

International Journal of Molecular Medicine
Ryungsa KimTetsuya Toge

Abstract

Apoptosis is a crucial phenomenon for radiation-induced cell death. Since Bax plays a critical role in inducing apoptosis via p53-dependent and -independent pathways, we analyzed a role of Bax in radiation sensitivity in esophageal carcinoma cells. Using eight human esophageal carcinoma cell lines, irradiation was performed with cobalt-60 (60Co) gamma-rays. Radiation sensitivity was determined by induction of apoptosis, which was assessed by morphological change in nuclear condensation of chromatin, DNA ladder formation and apoptosis-related genes after irradiation. The survival curve was evaluated by clonogenic assay using a parameter D0 after irradiation, compared to that of the control. After transfection of the bax gene into low radiation sensitivity, TE-1 cells were conducted by lipofection method using pSFFV-Neo vector carrying bax cDNA. Radiation sensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells was associated with induction of apoptosis, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Induction of apoptosis affects early responsiveness to irradiation rather than the parameter D0. Radiation-induced apoptosis was associated with an increase in expression of bax gene, regardless of p53 genetic status. The introduction of the bax gene into a...Continue Reading

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Apoptosis

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