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Bcl-2 and thermotolerance cooperate in cell survival
1Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
Cell Growth & Differentiation : the Molecular Biology Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|July 1, 1995
Summary
The oncogene bcl-2 protein inhibits apoptosis, or programmed cell death. When combined with heat shock proteins, bcl-2 enhances cell survival against heat-induced damage.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Apoptosis is a natural cellular process that can be triggered by cytotoxic stimuli.
- The bcl-2 oncogene protein effectively inhibits apoptosis in mammalian cells.
- Heat shock proteins induce transient thermotolerance, a state of resistance to heat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effect of bcl-2 expression and thermotolerance on heat-induced cell death.
- To determine if bcl-2 and thermotolerance share common pathways for inhibiting apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Assessing apoptotic cell appearance via nuclear morphology.
- Evaluating clonogenic cell survival as a long-term endpoint.
- Measuring steady-state and heat-induced expression of heat shock proteins.
Main Results:
- bcl-2 expression significantly increased resistance to heat-induced cell death in thermotolerant cells.
- bcl-2 expression did not affect heat shock protein levels or induction.
- bcl-2 is not a stress-inducible protein.
Conclusions:
- bcl-2 and the thermotolerant state independently inhibit apoptosis.
- Two distinct pathways can collaborate to enhance cell survival against cytotoxic stress.