Up-regulation of fas reverses cisplatin resistance of human small cell lung cancer cells

Background/aim. fas/fasl system is a major regulator of apoptosis. the mechanisms by which fas mediates cisplatin resistance remain unclear. the aim of this study is to explore the effect of fas over-expression on cisplatin resistance of small cell lung cancer cells and its possible mechanisms. materials and methods. fas was over-expressed in h446/cddp cells by infection with the adenoviruses containing fas. sensitivity of fas-overexpressed h446/cddp cells to cisplatin was evaluated using mtt assay. expressions of fas,gst-π and ercc1 were detected by rt-pcr and western blot analysis. apoptosis rate was examined by facs. results: over-expression of fas in h446/cddp cells significantly decreased the expressions of gst-π and ercc1 at mrna and protein levels,and increased the cell apoptosis. furthermore,up-regulation of fas significantly decreased the tolerance of h446/cddp cells to cisplatin. conclusion: over-expression of fas reverses drug resistance of h446/cddp cells,possibly due to the increased cell sensitivity to apoptosis and the decreased expressions of gst-π and ercc1. © 2010 wu et al; licensee biomed central ltd.