[Study on the roles of nuclear factor-kappaB, p53 and Bcl-2 gene in lead acetate induced apoptosis in PC12 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), p53 and Bcl-2 gene in lead acetate induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. METHODS: Cell culture, Flow cytometry, RT-PCR and Western Blot were employed to analyze the expression of NF-kappaB, p53 and Bcl-2 gene, and clarify the effect of lead acetate on apoptosis in PC12 cells and related molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: The PC12 cells were exposed to lead acetate at varied concentrations (100 micromol/ L, 200 micromol/L and 400 micromol/L) for 24 hours, Flow cytometry detected that the apoptosis rate of groups treated with lead acetate are higher than that of blank control groups with a dose-effect relationship (P < 0.05). RT-PCR results show that the mRNA expression level of NF-kappaB p65, p53 increased accordingly. Western Blot results show that the protein expression of Bcl-2 gene decreased. CONCLUSION: lead acetate induces apoptosis in PC12 cells, which may be related to activation of NF-kappaB and p53 gene and depression of Bcl-2 gene.