Objective To study the expressions of phosphatese and tensin homolog deletedin chromosom ten （PTEN）, Fas/FasL system and matrix metalloproteinnases-2 （MMP-2） in human gastric cancer. Methods Seventy-five cases of gastric carcinoma were selected from paraffin wax embodied specimens with full clinicopathological data, and another 15 cases of normal gastric mucosa specimens were selected as the control group. SP immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expressions of PTEN， Fas/FasL and MMP-2 in them. The data was statistically analyzed by χ2 test and relative analysis. Results The expressions of PTEN, Fas/FasL and MMP-2 were correlated with the lymphatic metastasis, degree of infiltration, clinical TMN stage and pathological histological differentiated degree of gastric cancer (Plt;0.05). PTEN was positive correlated with Fas/FasL (r=0.401, Plt;0.001). MMP-2 was negative correlated with Fas/FasL (r=－0.720， Plt;0.001). MMP-2 was negative correlated with PTEN (r=－0.336， Plt;0.001). Conclusion There is guidance meaning in testing the expressions of PTEN, Fas/FasL and MMP-2 in gastric cancer to estimate the prevention, diagnoses, therapy and prognosis of gastric cancer.
Objective To understand the molecular mechanism of HBx in the carcinogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The literatures published in the past 5 years which are mainly about HBx and hepatocellular carcinoma were reviewed. Results HBx had many functions, such as cell malignant transformation, inhibiting DNA repair, trans-activation, inhibiting p53 and apoptosis. These functions together with its Fas/Fas-L interfering and caspase-3 inhibiting could contribute to the carcinogenesis and development of HBV relatde HCC. Conclusion HBx has broad spectrum of biological functions, which contribute to the carcinogenesis and development of HBV related HCC.
Objective To investigate the effects of FasL gene-modified dendritic cell (DC) on the airway inflammation in mice sensitized/challenged by house dust mite (HDM) allergen.Methods FasL gene-modified DC (FasL-DC) and control DC (nontransfection DC) were administrated into HDM sensitized and challenged mice by intratracheal injection respectively，then HDM sensitized and challenged mice were sacreificed two days later.Total and differentiation cell counts and levels of interleukin-4（IL-4），IL-5 and interferon-γ(IFN-) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected and lung histological features were observed.Results After administration of FasL-DC，lung allergic inflammation was ameliorated while total cell counts，the percentage of eosinophil ,the levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF decreased and the level of IFN- in BALF increased.Conclusion Administrating FasL-DC into HDM sensitized/challenged mice can inhibit Th2 cells activation and ameliorate airway allergic inflammation.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 ( rhIGF-1) on apoptosis of diaphragm in rats with COPD and its impact on pulmonary function. Methods Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a normal control group, a model group, and an IGF-1 intervention group, with 15 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and IGF-1 group were exposed to 5% smoke ( 30 min perday, lasting 28 days) in a sealed box, and 200 μg lipopolysaccharide was injected intratracheally on the 1st and 14th day. The rats in the IGF-1 group were given rhIGF-1 ( 60 μg /100 g) additionally by subcutaneous injection once a day, lasting 28 days. On the 1st, 14th, 28th day, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed. The weight, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and Fas protein expression of isolated diaphragms were detected. The pulmonary function was measured on the 28th day before sacrificed. Results The mass of diaphragms, minute ventilation ( VE) , peak expiratory flow ( PEF) , inspiratory capacity ( IC) , forced expiratory volume in 0. 3 second ( FEV0. 3) of themodel groupand IGF-1 group were all decreased compared with the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . The mass of diaphragms, VE, IC of the IGF-1 group were higher than those of the model group ( P lt;0. 05) , and the differences of PEF and FEV0. 3 were not significant ( P gt; 0. 05) . On the 14th, 28th day, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and protein expressions in the IGF-1 group were lower than those in the model group, and still higher than those in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis way is involved in the diaphragm apoptosis. rhIGF-1 may reduce the apoptosis of the diaphragmand improve the VE and IC of rats with COPD by intervening Fas/FasL pathway.
Objective To investigate the expression of FLIP in the lung of rats and the protective effect in development of acute lung injury( ALI) with the adenovirus vector carrying FLIP gene( Ad-FLIP)inhaled. Methods Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 12 rats in each gruop. In treatment group, ALI rats model was eatablished by LPS intraperitoneal injection and then inhaled Ad-FLIP vector. In prevention group, the animals were infected with Ad-FLIP vector before ALI model wasestablished. Two control groups of treatment and prevention received Ad-EGFP vectors respectively.Pathological changes of lung were observed under light microscope. Wet/dry weight ( W/D) of lung lobes and lung permeability index( LPI) were also measured. The mRNA and protein expressions of FLIP in lungwere investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results Lung histopathological changes were alleviated, the index of W/D and LPI were significantly lower, the expressions of FILP mRNA and protein in the lung were elevated both in the treatment group and prevention group compared to thecontrol groups ( all P lt;0. 01) . Conclusion Ad-FLIP transfection can up-regulate the expression of FLIP in lung of rats, and might protect respiratory membrane and lessen pulmonary edema to prevent the development of ALI.
Objective To investigate the plasma levels of soluble Fas receptor ( sFas) , soluble Fas ligand ( sFas-L) and matrix metalloproteinase-7 ( MMP-7) and their correlation with disease severity as well as the prognosis of septic patients.Methods The plasma levels of sFas, sFas-L, sFas / sFas-L ratio and MMP-7 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared between32 patients with sepsis and 24 age and sex matched healthy controls. Based on the 28-day outcome, the patients were divided into a survival group and a death group. The difference in sFas, sFas-L, sFas/ sFas-L ratio and MMP-7 between the survival group and the death group were compared.Results Compared with the healthy control group, the concentration of plasma sFas, sFas-L and MMP-7 were significantly increased in the septic patients ( P lt; 0. 01) . Elevated plasma sFas and sFas-L were both positive correlated with the APACHEⅡ score and SOFA score. Although a modest negative correlation was found between plasma MMP-7 and APACHEⅡ score and SOFA score, but this correlation did not reach statistical significance ( P gt;0. 05) . The septic patients who died had significantly higher sFas-L level and lower sFas / sFas-L ratio as compared with those who survived ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion Plasma sFas, sFas-L and MMP-7 are associated with the disease severity and can serve as potential markers for predicting the outcome in septic patients.
Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of apoptosis-related gene Fas and recovery of neurological function after surgical decompression at different time points in acute spinal cord injury (SCI) rat model by cerclage. Methods A total of 100 13-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing, 255-376 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=25). The rats only received laminectomy in group A as control; the rats were made the acute SCI models by cerclage in groups B, C, and D. The spinal cord decompression was performed in group B at 8 hours and in group C at 72 hours, no spinal cord decompression in group D. At 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score and inclined plane test were used to evaluate the recovery of neurological function; the neuronal apoptosis level of spinal cord was examined by TUNEL staining; HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were applied to analyze the expressions of Fas. Results The BBB score and inclined plane test score in group A were significantly better than those in groups B, C, and D at different time points (P lt; 0.05); group B was significantly better than groups C and D, and group C than group D at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days (P lt; 0.05). In group A, no bleeding, edema, or necrosis was found. The edema, hemorrhage, and neuron death were observed in spinal cord tissue of groups B, C, and D at 1 day after operation, especially in group D. The degree of cell degeneration in group B was lighter than that in groups C and D at 3 and 7 days after operation; few glial cells and fibroblast proliferation were found at damaged zone in group B at 14 and 21 days, but necrosis and cystic cavity in groups C and D. Fas and TUNEL expression was little in group A at different time points. Fas and TUNEL were expressed in groups B, C, and D; the expressions of Fas and TUNEL reached the maximum at 3 days, and then gradually decreased at 7 and 21 days. The number of positive cells was highest in group D, and the number of positive cells in group B was significantly less than that in groups C and D (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Early decompression of SCI is beneficial to recovering the neurological function. The Fas signal pathway may play an important role in the apoptosis of neuron and glial cells after SCI.
Objective Corticosteroids can destroy the cartilage. To investigate the effect of dexamethasone (Dexa) on the apoptosis and expression of Fas/FasL of human articular chondrocytes (HACs) in vitro so as to explore the mechanism ofpro-apoptotic role of Dexa on HACs. Methods Following full agreement of patients, the cartilage specimens were collectedfrom the patients with osteoarthritis undergoing knee replacement. The second passage HACs were incubated in cell culture media containing 0.125, 1.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL Dexa for 48 hours respectively to determine the optimal concentration of Dexa by MTT. The apoptosis was assessed by TMRE/Hoechst/Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD quadruple staining after culture for 0, 24, and 48 hours. The mRNA expressions of Fas and FasL were determined by real-time quantitative PCR after culture for 48 hours. The protein expressions of Fas and FasL were determined by immunohistochemistry staining analysis after culture for 24 hours and 48 hours. Results The cell inhibitory rate of 25 μg/mL Dexa was significantly higher than that of 50 μg/mL Dexa (P lt; 0.05), and there were significant differences when compared with that at other concentrations of Dexa (P lt; 0.05), so 25 μg/mL Dexa was appropriately selected as an optimal concentration of Dexa. The apoptotic rates of HACs were 5.8% ± 0.3%, 27.0% ± 2.6%, and 36.0% ± 3.1% at 0, 24, and 48 hours, respectively, in a time dependent manner (P lt; 0.05). The expressions of Fas mRNA were (8.93 ± 1.12) × 10—3 in the experimental group and (3.31 ± 0.37) × 10—3 in the control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The expressions of FasL mRNA were (5.92 ± 0.66) × 10—3 in the experimental group and (2.31 ± 0.35) × 10—3in the control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The expressions of Fas and FasL proteins showed an increasing tendency with time in the experimental group and the expressions were significantly higher than those in the control group after culture for 24 hours and 48 hours (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Dexa can induce the apoptosis and significantly upregulate the apoptotic gene expression of Fas/FasL, which can provide the experimental evidence to further investigate the role of Fas/FasL signaling pathway in Dexa-induced HACs apoptosis.
Objective To detect gene mutations of Fas gene death domain （exons 7-9） in 2 Chinese keloid pedigrees and to investigatethe significance of Fas gene mutations in the keloid formation.Methods The samples were selected from keloid pedigrees A and B in 2005. The polymerase chainreaction and DNA sequencing analysis technique were used to detect the sequenceof exons 7-9 of Fas gene from keloid tissues of 2 male patients in pedigree A,their peripheral vein blood and their surrounding normal skin served as their own contrast, their spouses’ peripheral vein blood served as normal contrast, the peripheral vein blood of 2 patients in pedigree B served as a contrast between different keloid pedigrees.Results No gene mutations and single nucleotidepolymorphism in Fas gene exons 7, 8 were found in all samples from pedigrees A and B. But point mutations and single nucleotide polymorphism in Fas gene exon 9were identified in 11 bp and 53 bpin 2 keloid tissue samples from Chinese keloid pedigree A.Conclusion Fas gene point mutations maybe indicate some relations in Fas protein function and keloid formation.
Objective To replace dysfunctional Fas gene and reconstruct the blocked Fas signal by using two kinds of prepared recombinantAdenovirus which have human Fas gene. Methods After the keloids derived from fibroblasts were infected by the Adenovicus, the expressions of Fas protein before the exposure and after the exposure was compared. Then the function of the newly produced Fas protein was detected. Results The highly improve expression of Fas protein in the infected keloid derived fibroblasts was detected. Obvious apoptosis was also detected in the infected keloid derived from fibroblasts under the condition of exposing to FasMcab. Conclusion ①The recombinant Adenovirus with Fas gene can transfect the Fas gene into keloidderived fibroblasts and highly improved the expression of Fas protein. The newly expressed Fas gene can reconstruct the blocked Fas signal. ②Ad-Fas(B) has better therapeutic effect in vitro gene therapy. ③ The correlation between keloid and Fas gene was further proved and it may pave the way for further gene therapy in keloid .