Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2005; 11(17): 2653-2655
Published online May 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i17.2653
Transfection of apoptosis related gene Fas ligand in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its significance in apoptosis
Jun Chen, Xian-Shi Su, Yong-Fang Jiang, Guo-Zhong Gong, Yu-Huang Zheng, Gui-Yuan Li
Jun Chen, Xian-Shi Su, Yong-Fang Jiang, Guo-Zhong Gong, Yu-Huang Zheng, Gui-Yuan Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
Gui-Yuan Li, Institute of Tumor, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Foundation of Health Department of Hunan Province, No. 9683
Correspondence to: Jun Chen, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China. drchenjun@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-731-5524222-2263
Received: May 27, 2004
Revised: May 28, 2004
Accepted: June 17, 2004
Published online: May 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the expression of apoptosis related gene Fas ligand (FasL) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells HepG2 and its significance in apoptosis.

METHODS: Levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in a group of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced chronic hepatitis, HBV-positive liver cirrhosis and HCC were evaluated. In a further study, the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1hisB-FasL was transfected into HCC cells HepG2 by lipofection, and then soluble FasL was examined in the supernatant of culture cells by EIA, FasL expression in HepG2 cells was detected by immuohistochemistry. After being stained by annexin V and propidium iodine, cells were passed through a flow cytometer and examined by a fluorescence microscope and a laser scanning microscope.

RESULTS: The sFasL levels were significantly lower in patients with HCC when compared to the patients with hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. In comparison with untransfected cells, the soluble FasL could be detected in the supernatant of transfected cells. FasL was expressed on the membranes and cytoplasm of transfected cells. The apoptotic cell rate was 36.30% in transfected cells, and was 11.53% in untransfected cells. Moreover, the different stage of apoptotic cells could be distinguished by annexin V and propidium iodine staining.

CONCLUSION: Fas ligand is an apoptotic pathway of HCC cells.

Keywords: FasL; HCC; sFasL