Influence of transfected EGFR-cDNA on bcl-2 and Bax in glioblastoma cells

Objective To investigate the correlation of bcl 2 and Bax protein with nuclear matrix in glioblastoma cell line U87 as well as the effect of EGFR cDNA transfection on the expression of bcl 2 and Bax in U87 cells. Methods The correlation of bcl 2 and Bax protein with nuclear matrix in glioblastoma cell line U87 was studied by confocal microscopy and Western blot. The expression of bcl 2 and Bax in EGFR cDNA transfected and untransfected glioblastoma cell lines was studied by Western blot. Results Confocal microscopic images showed that bcl 2 protein was localized in the periphery of the nuclear matrix and Bax in the nuclear matrix. A 26 kDa bcl 2 band and a specific band of Bax at about 66 000 were detected in nuclear matrix proteins by western blot. The expression of bcl 2 was lower but that of Bax was higher in EGFR cDNA transfected cells than the control. Conclusion Bcl 2 and Bax, being nuclear matrix associated proteins, are probably involved in the EGFR cDNA induced malignant conversion of glioblastoma cells by introducing EGFR cDNA into the tumor cells. [