Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 1998; 4(6): 540-543
Published online Dec 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i6.540
Presence of Fas and Bcl-2 proteins in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells
Xing-Wang Wang, Hong Xie
Xing-Wang Wang, Hong Xie, Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
Xing-Wang Wang, male, born on July 23, 1959 in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, graduated from Zhenjiang Medical College in 1980. From 1987 to 1990, under the instruction of Professor Shu-Yun Xu and Professor Ming-Zhu Chen, he was engaged in the investigation of immunopharmacology and obtained Master of Medicine at Anhui Medical University. From 1994 to 1997, under the instruction of Professor Bin Xu, he was engaged in the studies of cancer pharmacology and obtained M.D. and Ph.D. at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Now he is working under the direction of Professor Hong Xie at Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences as postdoctor and associate professor. He has published more than 15 papers in the international journals and more than 40 papers in the Chinese national journals as well as 8 books (one book as editor in chief).
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xing-Wang Wang, Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
Telephone: +86-21-64315030-2137 Fax: +86-21-64331090
Received: July 15, 1998
Revised: September 25, 1998
Accepted: November 14, 1998
Published online: December 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To study the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 proteins in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells in order to analyze the possible relationship between cell growth regulation by alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) and Fas/Bcl-2 proteins.

METHODS: BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% new-born calf serum. Cells adhered to coverslips were used to detect Fas and Bcl-2 protein expression by the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) immunocytochemical assay.

RESULTS: Immunocytochemical study showed that essentially all the BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells could express Fas and Bcl-2 proteins, although in various amount. No positive staining for Fas and Bcl-2 proteins was observed when cells were incubated with non-relevant sera, to establish the specificity.

CONCLUSION: Fas apoptosis signals and Bcl-2 rescue/survival signals from apoptosis are expressed in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells. The finding strongly implys that AFP-mediated cell apoptosis and growth enhancement are potentially associated with Fas and Bcl-2 proteins present in those cells.

Keywords: liver neoplasms; BEL-7404; Fas gene; Bcl-2 proteins; gene expression; apoptosis