Evaluation of bcl-2 gene expression in papilloma of larynx in children

Apoptosis - programmed death of a cell - is a natural mechanism that controls the number of cells in an organism. Neoplastic cells as many types of normal cells, may be the subject of spontaneous apoptosis as well as they may be induced by anti-neoplastic factors. Neoplastic cells' resistance to drugs is often correlated with impossible induction of apoptosis in those cells. Though the process of apoptosis is not fully explained, a possible involvement of many genes in regulation of this process is indicated. One of them is bcl-2 gene and its product - bcl-2 protein, which has the property of apoptosis process inhibition and stimulation of a cell towards outliving (survival). Increased expression of bcl-2 gene is present in many neoplastic cells and it suggests a possible pathogenic role of bcl-2 gene in oncogenesis. In this paper the expression of bcl-2 gene in the cells of papilloma in larynx is defined in six children operated in the Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology of Medical School in Lublin. Papillomas of larynx are neoplasm's of particular resistance to treatment. Complete, cellular RNA was isolated with Chomczynski and Sacchi method using guanidine thiocyanate. Gene expression was defined with the method of reverse transcription by cDNA synthesis and amplification of bcl-2 gene fragment with specific oligonucleotides in reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The products were identified on agarose gel. Expression of bcl-2 gene in the investigated cells of laryngeal papilloma was confirmed in all the children. The presence of bcl-2 gene product in these cells may be the cause of apoptosis inhibition and stimulation of cells proliferation of the neoplasm.