13 Cis-retinoic acid mediates apoptosis in Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells by regulating gene expression

Apoptosis is a form of regulated cell death that plays an important role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Treatment of Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells (DLA)-induced experimental solid tumor tumor cells with 13 cis-retinoic acid, at concentrations of 25 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL, produced apoptotic morphologic changes, such as nuclear condensation and DNA-ladder formation after 48h incubation at 37 degrees C. in addition, the compound upregulated caspase-3 expression and downregulated bcl-2 gene expression. In vivo treatment with 13 cis-retinoic acid (200 micromoles/kg body weight, ip) inhibited solid tumor development induced with DLA cells in Swiss albino mice. In conclusion, the results suggest that the anti-tumor activity of 13 cis-retinoic acid in DLA cells is due to apoptosis mediated by the regulation of bcl-2 and caspase-3 gene expression.