Objective: To investigate the effect of protein product of TFAR19, an apoptosis-related gene previously cloned from leukemia cell line TF-1 cultured in medium deprived of growth factor, on cell cycle and apoptosis of human breast cancer induced by gamma-ray.
Methods: Cell morphology, fluorescence microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and flow cytometry (FCM) were applied to study cell cycle and apoptosis of breast cancer cell line MCF-7.
Results: rhTFAR19 protein itself had no effect on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of MCF-7 cell induced by gamma-ray. When MCF-7 cells were pretreated with 10 micrograms/ml rhTFAR19 and then irradiated with 12 Gy gamma-ray, cell apoptosis was observed. It was characterized morphologically by chromatin condensation, nucleoar disintegration, formation of apoptotic bodies, and typical "cornet" on SCGE.
Conclusion: TFAR19 protein has no apparent effect on MCF-7 cell cycle induced by gamma-ray. However, it synergizes with gamma-radiation in the induction and enhancement of apoptosis.