The effect of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (Cpe) gene expression on apoptosis in the DU145 prostate cancer cell

Prostate cancer is one of the most common kinds of malignancy in men, with a significant morbidity and mortality rate. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of Cpe on the expression of bak, bax, fas, bcl2, cyclin D1, and cyclin E genes on DU145 prostate cancer cell lines. In the present study, the pBudCE4.1-CPE recombinant vector and empty plasmid were individually transformed into the DU145 cell line using the Lipofectamine 2000 protocol. The presence of each vector was checked by PCR. The cpe gene expression in transfected DU145 was assessed. Expression of apoptotic genes (fas, bcl2, bak, and bax) and cell cycle progression genes (cyclin E and cyclin D1) was maintained in transfected and untransfected DU145 cells. Statistical analyses revealed that the expression of bak, bax, and fas were considerably higher in cells transfected with a recombinant vector (P < 0.05). bcl2 and cyclin E and cyclin D1 genes expression decreased significantly in vector transfected DU145 cells when compared with the cells transfected by an empty plasmid or untransfected ones. Cpe expression could suppress DU145 growth by affecting cell apoptosis. The expression of cpe in the DU145 cell line was tested for the first time and confirms its probable effect on similar cells. According to the findings of this study, cpe gene in a recombinant vector might be a candidate vaccine for the treatment of prostate cancer.