MECHANISMS OF THE INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN HEPATOMA CELLS BY TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR‐α

作者：Jianfeng Li, Rongliang Zheng, Ji Li, Zhenhua Wang · 发表于：Cell Biology International · 年份：2001 · DOI：10.1006/cbir.2001.0792 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Cell death mechanisms and regulation、Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection、Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) at 20 ng/ml induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cells in vitro. The effect of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis was exacerbated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX/XO) system and cycloheximide (CHX), but alleviated by superoxide dismutase (SOD), suggesting that TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis may be due to oxidative stress, and independent of protein synthesis. TNF-alpha elevated free Ca(2+)concentration, triggered lipid peroxidation and decreased the expression of bcl-2 protein. The findings suggest that TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis may be involved in stimulating Ca(2+)-dependent endonuclease activity and increasing membrane lipid peroxidation. Bcl-2 may play a pivotal role in serving as a Ca(2+)regulator or antioxidant, preventing lipid peroxidation in the process.