Signal transduction in apoptosis of hela cells induced by apoptin

Objective To study whether apoptin gene induces apoptosis in hela cells via the activation caspase-8 and caspase-3.Methods The hela cells were transiently transfected with recombinant pcDNAA3 plasmid,which contained apoptin gene and the apoptosis was measured with DNA agarose electrophoresis,RT-PCR and flow cytometry.Caspase-8 and caspase-3 relative activity was analyzed with colorimetric assay at various time.Results The apoptin gene could induce apoptosis of hela cells in vitro and the mRNA of apoptin gene could be detected by RT-PCR.The activity of caspase-3 increased in hela cells after transfected with apoptin gene,but that of caspase-8 did not change.Conclusion Apoptin gene can induce apoptosis in hela cells via activ ation of caspase-3.