bcl-2 gene prevents apoptosis of basic fibroblast growth factor-deprived murine aortic endothelial cells

Growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have been found to promote the survival and proliferation of endothelial cells. However, the mechanism by which growth factors control the regeneration and degeneration of the endothelial cells remained poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that apoptosis of murine aortic endothelial (MAE) cells was induced by deprivation of bFGF but required new RNA and protein synthesis. Furthermore, enforced expression of bcl-2 gene in MAE cells using gene transfer techniques decreased apoptosis induced by deprivation of bFGF. These findings suggest that bcl-2 interferes with a pathway for endothelial cell death that is induced by deprivation of bFGF.