Expression Level of Caspase Genes in Colorectal Cancer

Asadi, Milad; Shanaehbandi, Dariush; Asvadi Kermani, Touraj; Sanaat, Zohreh; Zafari, Venus; Hashemzadeh, Shahriyar

doi:10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.5.1277

Expression Level of Caspase Genes in Colorectal Cancer

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

² Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tabriz, Iran.

³ Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

⁴ Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.5.1277

Abstract

Background: Caspases proteins are protease enzymes involved in the initiation and execution of apoptosis process.
Regulation of apoptosis process plays an important role in the normal biological events and development. In addition
to developmental abnormalities, dysregulated apoptosis system may lead to tumorigenesis, autoimmunity, and other
serious health problems. Aberrant regulation of apoptosis may also be the paramount cause of chemoresistance during
cancer therapy. It is aimed through this study to evaluate the transcript levels of Caspase 3, 8, and 9 in tumoral tissues
from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and compare it with normal marginal tissues. Methods: Fifty tumor tissues
and their matched marginal tissues, as control group, were obtained from CRC patients. Total mRNA of all tissue
samples was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Using SYBR Green PCR master mix and Real-time gene expression
technique, the transcript level of target genes was quantified. Results: Experiments indicated that mRNA expressions
of caspase 9 and 3 were downregulated in tumoral tissues from CRC patients in comparison to marginal tissues. In
contrast, tumoral tissues expressed mRNA of caspase 8 higher than normal marginal tissues. Modified transcript levels
of caspase 3, 8, and 9 were correlated with the clinical manifestations of the patients. Conclusions: Alteration in the
mRNA level of caspase genes may be involved in the development of CRC.

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