HepG2 In Vitro Caspase Activation-based Apoptosis Assay

This assay is to provide HepG2-based In Vitro Caspase Activation-based Apoptosis Assay to accelerate our client's oncology projects. The assay will be customized according to the specific requirements. Please contact our scientists to discuss more details.

HepG2

Human

Hep G2 is an immortal cell line which was derived in 1975 from the liver tissue of a 15-year-old Caucasian male from Argentina with a well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. These cells are epithelial in morphology, have a modal chromosome number of 55, and are not tumorigenic in nude mice.

Hep G2

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Oncology

In Vitro Caspase Activation-based Apoptosis Assay

HepG2-cell based In Vitro Caspase Activation-based Apoptosis Assay

Detection of the activation of caspases has become a very common in vitro technique to confirm apoptosis. Apoptosis includes activation of a group of enzymes in the cysteine protease family named caspases. Fourteen different classes (1-14) of caspases have been identified so far and caspases 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are involved in apoptosis. With specific antibodies, colorimetric, fluorometric and luminometric kits, gene-specific probes and primers, detection of caspases has become an easy procedure. Detection of PARP cleavage by caspase is also a common apoptotic detection assay.

Detection of Apoptosis Assays

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) plays a vital role in embryonic development, homeostasis, functioning of immune system and wound repair. The ability to evade induction of apoptosis has been used by cancer cells to survive against host defense mechanisms. The molecular mechanisms involved in cancer cell apoptosis have been well documented and it involves certain biochemical events such as DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, cell organelle degradation and protein cleavage, etc. The extrinsic and intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathways are the two major pathways involved in apoptosis. With the available techniques and assays, a number of apoptosis inducing agents (natural compounds, synthetic compounds, nano-formulations, peptides and enzymes) in many cancer cells have been identified. Selection of an assay for apoptosis detection is based on factors such as apoptotic pathway, nature of drug, cell type being used and the method of analysis.

Detection of Caspases