Objective: To investigate the dose response and time course of radiation-induced apoptosis and gene expression products of p53, bcl-2 genes in human hepatocarcinoma cell line QGY-7703 in vitro.
Methods: Apoptosis was induced by radiation and quantitated by Flow Cytometry. The oncoproteins of p53 and bcl-2 genes after radiation were detected immunocytochemically on cell cytospinned slides. The data were analyzed with Sony Mias-300 Spato Immage Analyzer.
Results: The percentage of apoptosis in unradiation QGY-7703 was 4. 79%. After radiation, the apoptotic fraction increased with incubation time and radiation dose. Both gene expression products increased with incubation time and reached plateau at 6h post-radiation.
Conclusion: After radiation, the response and time course of radiation-induced apoptosis in QGY-7703 cell line are similar to those of p53, bcl-2 oncoproteins. The later proceeds by the apoptosis peak about 6 h. The results suggest that p53 and bcl-2 genes are the regulating factors partially in radiation-induced apoptosis of QGY-7703 cell line.