Relationship between Caspase-3 Expression and Apoptosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell A-549 with Adenovirus-Mediated FasL Gene

Investigate the relationship between caspase-3 expression and apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cell line A-549 who was transfected with Adenovirus-mediated FasL gene. Human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A-549 was transfected with Adenovirus-mediated FasL gene. The expression of caspase-3-, apoptosis morphological changes were measured using flow cytometry, RT-PCR assays, the activity of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were determined with Western blot analysis. The expression of caspase-3 was low in lung adenocarcinoma cell line A-549, but transfection of lung adenocarcinoma cells with Ad-FasL enhanced cell expression of caspase-3 gene and induced susceptibility to Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis(44.08% vs 18.15%, p<0.01). Apoptosis had positive relationship with the activity of caspase-3 ( gamma =0.647, p<0.01). Down-regulation of caspase-3 expression and resistance to Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells were found to be related to the development and progression of lung adenocarcinoma cells. FasL gene transfer may increase caspase-3 in lung adenocarcinoma cells and enhance their apoptosis.