Role of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells

[Objective] To study the role of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis of neuroblastoma cell line CHP212 cells. [Methods] The effects of TRAIL and Caspase 8/ Caspase 3 inhibitor+ TRAIL on the apoptosis of CHP212 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The relative Caspase 8/ Caspase 3 activity was measured by colorimetric assay. The Morphology of the apoptosis cells were detected by using the transmission electron microscope (TEM). [Results] TRAIL could induce apoptosis of CHP212 cells in a dose dependent way. Caspase 8/ Caspase 3 inhibitor could diminish the apoptosis of CHP212 cells induced by TRAIL. The relative Caspase 8/ Caspase 3 activity of CHP212 cells increased gradually with the prolongation of TRAIL action time and reached the peak at 16 h and 8 h respectively. Typical features of apoptosis were seen by TEM. [Conclusion] TRAIL could induce apoptosis of CHP212 cells through Caspase - transduced signal pathway with the increase of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 activity.