[Effect of c-myc transfection on fas expression and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113].

Background And Objective: The process of carcinogenesis is not only correlated to the abnormality of cell proliferation but also to the change of normal cell apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by c-myc(cellular avian myelocytoma virus) gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113.

Methods: Plasmid including c-myc gene was transfected into Tca8113 cell by using lipofectamine kit. The cells were selected by G418. The expression of fas(fatty acid synthase) gene in transfected and non-transfected Tca8113 cell was detected by RT-PCR. Apoptosis of Tca8113 cell was determined by TUNEL.

Results: Up-regulation of fas expression was found in c-myc transfected Tca8113 cell. The increased apoptosis index (AI) could only be found under the condition of low serum concentration.

Conclusions: c-myc could mediate apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in certain condition. This might be related with the up-regulation of fas expression.