Expression of bcl-2 gene increases in apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells induced by rattlesnake venom

Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) has been induced by deprivation of survival factors (aFGF and serum) and by rattlesnake venom. The expression of bcl-2 gene has been examined by Northern blotting in the two apoptosis inducing systems. Our results show that the expression of bcl-2 has not been detected in normal culture cells and in apoptotic cells induced by deprivation of survival factors. But in apoptotic cells induced by rattlesnake venom (10 mu g/mL), the expression of bcl-2 increases, and its mRNA exhibits two bands. The data first suggest that increasing expression and splitting of bcl-2 mRNA may play an important role in apoptosis of VEC induced by rattlesnake venom, and this finding is helpful to understanding the role of bcl-2 in regulation of apoptosis.