Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1999. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 15, 1999; 5(1): 50-52
Published online Feb 15, 1999. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i1.50
Expression of IL 1β converting enzyme in 5-FU induced apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells
Li-Ying Deng, Yun-Han Zhang, Ping Xu, Su-Min Yang, Xue-Bin Yuan
Li-Ying Deng, Su-Min Yang, Xue-Bin Yuan, Department of Pathology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China
Yun-Han Zhang, Ping Xu, Department of Pathology, Henan Medical University, Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Li-Ying Deng, Department of Pathology, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China
Received: September 23, 1998
Revised: October 22, 1998
Accepted: December 5, 1998
Published online: February 15, 1999
Abstract

AIM To study the role of interleukin 1β-converting enzyme (ICE) in antitumor drug-induced apoptosis in tumor cells.

METHODS Morphological changes in human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells after treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were observed under light and electron microscope. Expression of ICE in the tumor cells exposed to 5-FU was examined by the immunocytochemical method.

RESULTS The cells treated with 5-FU displayed disappearance of nucleoli, chromatin gathering under nuclear envelope, karyorrhexis, budding and the formation of apoptotic bodies. The expression of ICE was negative in control cells, and 5-FU could induce the ICE expression in Eca-109 cells undergoing apoptosis. The number and the staining intensity of positive cells increased with the extension of action time.

CONCLUSION 5-FU may induce apoptosis in hu-man esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells; ICE gene may be involved in the regulation of 5-FU-induced apoptosis; and ICE protein may mediate apoptosis induced by 5-FU.

Keywords: esophageal cancinoma; cell line; apoptosis; 5-fluorouracil; interleukin 1β-con-verting enzyme