Objective: To explore the effects of chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) on the growth and apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cell and understand its mechanism for the induction of cell apoptosis.
Methods: After the transfection of human vascular smooth muscle cell with CKLF1, CCK8 assay was used to observe the growth of cell. The cell cycle and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). And the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot respectively.
Results: At 24, 48 and 72 h, the growth proliferation (15.8% ± 3.4%, 25.5% ± 9.8% and 37.2% ± 3.3%, P < 0.05) and inhibited apoptosis (5.5% ± 1.3%, 7.6% ± 0.7% and 11.4% ± 5.5%, P < 0.05) of vascular smooth muscle cell were detected. CKLF1 also down-regulated the level of mRNA expression of Bax (0.96 ± 0.14, 0.61 ± 0.15 and 0.37 ± 0.05), protein expression of Caspase-3 (1.94 ± 0.30, 1.09 ± 0.17 and 0.73 ± 0.09) and elevated the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 (1.59 ± 0.18, 2.05 ± 0.51 and 2.96 ± 0.27).
Conclusion: CKLF1 can induce proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cell through the down-regulation of Bax and Caspase-3 and the up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.