Transfection of pemt2-cDNA Inhibits c-Met and Bcl-2 Expression and Induces Apoptosis in Rat CBRH-7919 Hepatoma Cells

To unravel the molecular mechanism of inhibition of proliferation induced by transfection of pemt 2 cDNA into CBRH 7919 hepatoma cells,cell culture, pemt 2 cDNA transfection,flow cytometry,immunocytochemical and Western blotting,and agarose gel electrophoretic techniques were used.The expression of the HGF receptor c Met and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl 2 were down regulated in the pemt 2 transfected cells.The high expression clone of pemt 2 transfected cells showed an increase in cell number of G 1 phase and a decrease in that of S phase.An apoptotic peak was seen in the G 0 phase.DNA ladder was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis.The results show that transfection of pemt 2 into rat hepatoma cells could inhibit the expression of c Met and Bcl 2 and induce apoptosis.This could,at least partly,account for the reduced proliferation of the pemt 2 transfected CBRH 7919 cells.