Expression of apoptosis-related genes caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 during oral buccal mucosa carcinogenesis in Chinese hamster / 中国实验动物学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the expression and significance of apoptosis-related genes caspase-3,caspase-9,Bax and Bcl-2 in oral normal mucosa,oral simple hyperplasia,oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) in Chinese hamsters.Methods The expressions of mRNA and protein of caspase-3,caspase-9,Bax and Bcl-2 in the oral normal mucosa,oral simple hyperplasia,oral epithelial dysplasia and OSCC tissues in Chinese hamsters were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.Results During the process of oral carcinogenesis,the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly higher in OSCC than in oral normal mucosa,oral simple hyperplasia,and oral epithelial dysplasia (P<0.05).In dysplastic epithelia,the protein expressions of caspase-3,caspase-9 and Bax were more than that of normal epithelia,and along with the increased dysplasis,the expression level was decreased.Further analysis showed that expression of Bcl-2 was negatively related with the expressions of Bax,caspase-3 and caspase-9 (P<0.05).The result of RT-PCR showed that Bcl-2 was significantly increased in OSCC compared with normal mucosa,while the expressions of caspase-3,caspase-9 and Bax were decreased (P<0.05).Conclusions In the Chinese hamster squamous carcinoma,the expressions of caspase-3,caspase-9 and Bax are reduced and the Bcl-2 expression are increased,indicating that the expressions of caspase-3,caspase-9,Bax and Bcl-2 are closely related with the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell cancinoma.This study can offer some clues for gene therapy of OSCC,or can provide a reference for evaluating the biological characteristics and prognosis of OSCC.