Effects of protein kinase CK2α on apoptosis and ultrastructure of laryngeal carcinoma cells
Wang, J.-T.; Gong, S.-S.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 90(40): 2869-2872
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0376-2491 PMID: 21162802 Document Number: 645101
To investigate the effect of protein kinase CK2α on apoptosis and ultrastructure of human laryngeal carcinoma cells and its possible mechanism. The siRNA expression plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α specific to protein kinase CK2α and non-specific siRNA expression plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo-cont were transfected into Hep-2 cells respectively by lipofectamine method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of kinase CK2α protein. The apoptotic rate was measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining. The morphological changes of Hep-2 cells were observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The expressions of bcl-2 and Bax protein were measured by Western blot. The expression of protein kinase CK2α protein significantly decreased in the Hep-2 cells transfected with psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α (P < 0.01). Compared with the untransfected cells and siRNA-hH1neo-cont transfected group, psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group presented with classical ultrastructural features of apoptosis, such as karyopyknosis, chromatic agglutination adjacent to nuclear membrane and apoptotic body. The apoptotic rate of psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group was obviously higher than that in untransfected cells and siRNA-hH1neo-cont transfected group (25.66% ± 0.83% vs 3.66% ± 0.43%, 5.18% ± 0.22%, both P < 0.05). Compared with two other groups, the bcl-2 protein expression of psiRNA-hH1neo-CK2α transfected group decreased (0.20 ± 0.09 vs 0.72 ± 0.16, 0.56 ± 0.11, both P < 0.01), the Bax protein expression increased (0.81 ± 0.17 vs 0.26 ± 0.12, 0.33 ± 0.17, both P < 0.01) while the ratio of bcl-2 to Bax decreased (0.25 ± 0.05 vs 2.76 ± 0.21, 1.70 ± 0.22, both P < 0.01). Protein kinase CK2a plays an important role in the apoptosis of human laryngeal carcinoma cells possibly by decreasing bcl-2/Bax. Protein kinase CK2a may provide a potential therapeutic target against human laryngeal carcinoma.