The Expression and Anti-apoptotic Function of HSV-2 LAT ORF2

Abstract:

To explore the expression and effects of transfection of the HSV-2 LAT ORF2 gene on Vero cells against apoptosis induced by 5-FU. Recombinant plasmid pEGFP-ORF2 was transiently transfected into vero cells, expression was determined by green fluorescent protein and RT-PCR, changes of cell apoptosis were determined by Giemsa stain, MTT assay and DNA ladder. We found that the green fluorescent protein has a high expressed efficiency in Vero cells, target gene was detected by RT-PCR. Vero cells transfected with pEGFP-ORF2 induced by 5-FU have no changes in cytomorphology. MTT assay showed that the cells activ-ity transfected with HSV-2 LAT ORF2 remarkably higer than the negative control, While there were no such remarkable changes between them and normal cells. DNA ladder showed that there was no DNA fragment. Therefore we concluded that HSV-2 LAT ORF2 gene was expressed effectively in vero cells and can protect cells from apoptosis induced by 5-FU.

Key words:HSV-2, LAT, Green fluorescent protein, Vero cells, Anti-apoptosis