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Comparison of Caspase Genes for the Induction of Apoptosis Following Gene Delivery

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Abstract

The polycation poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) was used to deliver the plasmids coding for various combinations of caspases to Cox-2 overexpressing cancer cell lines. It was found that the expression of the delivered genes, controlled by the Cox-2 promoter, correlated with the expression of the endogenous Cox-2 gene in each cell line in a relatively linear manner. Among the various caspase combination regimens, the combination of caspase 3 plus caspase 9 proved to be the most effective because of an apparent synergy between the two gene products, and produced phosphatidylserine flipping in addition to fragmentation of genomic DNA. Caspase 1 appeared to work independently of either caspases 3 or 9, as no synergistic effect was observed. Transfections with genes coding for granzyme B and caspase 8 yielded a lesser amount of cell death. The delivery of a combination of caspase genes could be readily moved to in vivo research of bladder and colon cancer treatments, and holds great applicability to a wide array of additional tumor types.

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Acknowledgments

The funding for this research was provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents, LEQSF (2004-07)-RD-A-28 (WTG, XZ), and the Louis Stokes-Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-LAMP), Tulane campus program (CT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Gene Therapy and Cellular Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Avenue, 300 Lindy Boggs Center, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Xiujuan Zhang & W T Godbey

  2. Department of Chemistry, Grambling State University, 403 Main Street, GSU Box 4218, Grambling, LA, 71245, USA

    Curlicia Turner

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  1. Xiujuan Zhang
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Correspondence to W T Godbey.

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Zhang, X., Turner, C. & Godbey, W.T. Comparison of Caspase Genes for the Induction of Apoptosis Following Gene Delivery. Mol Biotechnol 41, 236–246 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-008-9133-9

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