Overexpression of LAPTM4B-35 attenuates epirubucin-induced apoptosis of gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells

Background It was shown previously that LAPTM4B promoted growth of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) cells and predicted poor prognosis in GBC; however, its roles and relative mechanisms in apoptosis of GBC cells remain unknown. Methods The plasmids, pcDNA3-AE, containing the complete open reading frame of LAPTM4B and Mock (pcDNA3), were transfected transiently into GBC-SD cells, followed by induction of apoptosis by epirubicin. Cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry. Protein expression was detected by immunoblotting. Results Overexpression of LAPTM4B-35 was observed in cells transfected with pcDNA3-AE. These cells possessed significantly less apoptosis ratios compared with cells transfected with the Mock plasmid, although the values were still greater than those in parent cells. Of the apoptosis-related molecules, expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL was up-regulated in cells transfected with pcDNA3-AE, whereas expressions of Bax, Bid, and cleaved caspase-9 and -3 were down-regulated compared with their expression in other kinds of cells. Conclusion Our data show that LAPTM4B-35 attenuated epirubicin-induced apoptosis of GBC-SD cells in vitro through a mitochondria-dependent pathway. Therefore, the protein LAPTM4B-35 might be associated with the chemoresistance of GBC.