Levels of expression of caspase-3,-8,-9,Bcl-2 and Bax in Hacat cells induced by arecoline

Objective:To study levels of expression of the proteins caspase-3,-8,-9,Bcl-2 and Bax in Hacat cells induced by arecoline. Method:Hacat cells were incubated with different concentrations of arecoline(0,25,50,75,100 or125 μg /mL)for 24 h. This was done to detect the levels of expression of caspase-3,-8,-9,Bcl-2 and Bax in Hacat cells using Western blot. Result:With the increase in the concentration of arecoline,the expression of caspase-3 and-8gradually increased,but casapse-9 failed to be significantly upregulated,Hacat cells expressing Bcl-2 was inhibited,whereas Bax was significantly up-regulated when the concentration was 125 g/mL. Conclusion:Arecoline is able to induce Hacat cell apoptosis by endogenous and exogenous pathways,but the exogenous pathway of apoptosis is more significantly activated when the concentrations of arecoline is high. The arecoline can raise pro-apoptotic protein Bax and down the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2.