Expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in apoptosis induced by all-trans-retinoic acid of C6 glioma cells in rat

Objective To study the expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in the apoptosis of rat C6 glioma cells and the mechanism of apoptosis which induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Methods Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to measure the effect on the proliferation of C6 glioma cells treated with different concentrations of ATRA for 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h. And the expression levels of mRNA and protein of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in C6 glioma cells were examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot. Results ATRA significantly inhibited the cell viability of C6 glioma cells,and the results of RT-PCR and Western-blot showed that ATRA down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and activated the pro-apoptotic protein Caspase-3. Conclusion ATRA can effectively inhibit the proliferation of C6 glioma cells and induce the apoptosis.