Expressions of Bcl-xs mRNA and Bcl-xs/l protein in endometrial carcinoma and the significances Bcl-xs has 63 amino acids less than Bcl-xl (BH1 and BH2 region). Its function is similar to that of Bax, which is to inhibit Bcl-2 activity and promote cell apoptosis[4]. Sumantran et al. [5] used adenoviruses as vector to introduce Bcl-xs into breast cancer cell line. Their results showed that

adv-Bcl-xs transfection could induce tumor cell apoptosis. In 1996, Ealovega et al. [15]constructed a replication-deficient adenovirus as vector to transiently express Bcl-xs in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and nude mice breast cancer tissues. They found that Bcl-xs overexpression could induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Further studies have shown that adv-Bcl-xs could infect breast cancer cells OSI-906 cost in vitro or in vivo to induce growth inhibition and death of breast cancer cells. This inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects were more prominent with increased virus titer and increased Bcl-xs gene copies carried by the virus[16]. Our results showed that expressions of Bcl-xs mRNA and Bcl-xs/l protein slightly

decreased in normal and simple hyperplasia endometrial tissues, while significantly decreased in atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma tissues, suggesting that abnormal expressions of these two played important roles in the early stage of endometrial carcinoma development. selleck chemicals llc It was possible that low-expression of Bcl-xs led to inhibition of apoptosis, and thus abnormal endometrial

cells CH5183284 cell line threatening the body function could not be eliminated, resulting in endometrial carcinoma. The correlation between expressions of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs in different types of endometrial tissues Bcl-xs can form heterodimer with Bcl-xl. 5-Fluoracil in vitro Ratio of these two affects the sensitivity and resistance of cells to variety of apoptotic factors and determines the activity of caspases, which are the final pathway for apoptosis in many different cells. Many Bcl-2 gene family members form a system with other members to modulate apoptosis, especially Bcl-2, Bcl-xs and Bax. Qiang Wang et al. [17] used in situ hybridization to test the expression statuses of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs in post-ischemic brain tissue undergoing mild hypothermia treatment. They confirmed that ratio between Bcl-xl and Bcl-xs concentrations determined whether apoptosis would occur or not. The expression of Bcl-xl and Bcl-xsm in different types of endometrial tissues were negatively correlated. We speculate that it might be Bcl-xs not Bcl-xl expression that is dominant in normal endometrial tissue. With progression of endometrial lesion, Bcl-xl expression increased while Bcl-xs expression decreased gradually. When Bcl-xl expression becomes dominant, endometrial carcinoma will be induced. The ratio between these two has certain impact on the development of endometrial cancer.