Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to induce apoptosis on normal hepatocytes and hepatoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, how the TGF-beta induces apoptosis is still not clear. We examined the expression of anti-apoptosis proteins and sensitivity to TGF-beta in three well differentiated human hepatoma cell lines. Two TGF-beta sensitive cell lines Hep3B and HuH7 totally lacked Bcl-2. In contrast, the TGF-beta resistant HepG2 cells expressed a substantial amount of Bcl-2. AU three cell lines expressed equal amounts of Bcl-X-L, Bcl-X-S and Bar. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in Hep3B and HuH7 cells protected them from TGF-beta-induced apoptosis. TGF-beta treatment increased intracellular peroxide production and suppressed the expression of glutathione-S-transferase in the Hep3B cells, and these effects were partially suppressed by the overexpression of Bcl-2. These results suggest that Bcl-2 may protect cell from TGF-beta-F-induced apoptosis by interfering TGF-beta generated signals leading to induce reactive oxygen species production.
