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BLCAP induces apoptosis in human Ewing's sarcoma cells.
De-Gang Fan1, Feng Zhao, Yong Ding
1Orthopaedic Oncology Institute of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Xi-an, China.
Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
|August 17, 2011
Summary
Bladder cancer-associated protein (BLCAP) suppresses Ewing's sarcoma growth and induces apoptosis. BLCAP down-regulates BCL-2 and EWS-FLI1, suggesting a role in cell proliferation and apoptosis coordination.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Bladder cancer-associated protein (BLCAP) is a novel tumor suppressor gene.
- BLCAP is implicated in bladder carcinoma invasion, osteosarcoma tumorigenesis, and metastasis.
- Its role in Ewing's sarcoma requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of BLCAP in human TC-135 Ewing's sarcoma cells.
- To determine the effect of BLCAP overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying BLCAP's action, including its impact on EWS-FLI1 and BCL-2.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a recombinant BLCAP cDNA.
- Overexpression of BLCAP in human TC-135 Ewing's sarcoma cells.
- Assessment of cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction.
- Measurement of caspase-3/7 activity.
- Analysis of Ewing's sarcoma protein-friend leukemia virus integration 1 (EWS-FLI1) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) expression levels.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of BLCAP significantly inhibited the growth of Ewing's sarcoma cells.
- BLCAP induced apoptosis in these cells.
- Apoptosis was associated with down-regulated expression of EWS-FLI1 and BCL-2.
- Caspase-3/7 activity was investigated in relation to these changes.
Conclusions:
- BLCAP acts as a tumor suppressor in human Ewing's sarcoma cells.
- BLCAP regulates cell proliferation and coordinates apoptosis.
- The mechanism involves the down-regulation of BCL-2 and EWS-FLI1.
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