Low levels of Bax inhibitor-1 gene expression increase tunicamycin-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SY5Y cells.

A human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line with a low level of Bax inhibitor-1 expression was established by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. In control SH-SY5Y cells, tunicamycin treatment induced endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis; however, after Bax inhibitor-1 gene knockdown, cell survival rates were significantly decreased and the degree of apoptosis was significantly increased following tunicamycin treatment. In addition, chromatin condensation and apparent apoptotic phenomena, such as marginalization and cytoplasmic vesicles, were observed. Our findings indicate that Bax inhibitor-1 can delay apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress.