ABSTRACT
The Rho GTPases are the sub-group of Ras super family and identified in all eukaryotes. The Rho GTPases effect different cellular signaling pathways involved in a number of diseases such as cancer, neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Members of Rho GTPases including RhoA, RhoC and Rac1 play a major role in regulation of apoptosis in different kind of stress conditions. Here we investigated the Rho GTPase activating protein 15 [ArhGAP15] gene knock-down effect on apoptosis induced by ethanol in bovine fibroblast cells. The bovine Fibroblast cells were treated and transfected with two different concentrations [50 and 100 nM] of ArhGAP15 siRNA for 48 h respectively. Both concentrations of siRNA were effective and the results of RT-PCR revealed an efficient knock-down of ArhGAP15 mRNA in fibroblast cells. Further, the normal cells exposed to a 100 mM ethanol concentration showed a reduction in cell viability and induced the ratio of apoptosis related Bax/Bcl-2 proteins compared with ArhGAP15 siRNA transfected ethanol treated cells. Ethanol also increased caspase-3 expression in normal fibroblast cells compared with transfected cells. The ArhGAP15 knock-down cells treated with ethanol decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and lower caspase-3 protein levels in ArhGAP15 knocked-down cells. Our results suggest that apoptosis induced by ethanol involves the activation of Rho GTPase activating protein 15 and silencing of the said gene protects apoptosis