Bcl-2 plays a pivotal role in the control of cell death and is down-regulated in trichosanthin (TCS)-induced cell apoptosis. Because Bcl-2 expression is regulated by the transcription factor cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), we investigated the role of CREB activation in TCS-induced Hela cells apoptosis. Our results showed that TCS-caused Hela cell apoptosis was accompanied by the decrease of Bcl-2 and phosphorylated CREB protein levels. Interesting, this inhibitive effect can be abolished by the combined treatment of TCS/cAMP agonists. Furthermore, TCS-mediated Bcl-2 protein was abrogated by the suppression of CREB expression with antisense treatment, and blocking the interaction between CREB-binding protein and the Bcl-2 cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE) by a CRE decoy oligonucleotide. Therefore, these data support the hypothesis that CREB plays a critical role in the regulation of Bcl-2 expression in TCS-induced Hela cell death. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.