title: Apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis--expression of Fas, Fas-L, p53, and Bcl-2 in rheumatoid synovial tissues.
abstract: Recent studies have suggested that apoptosis is one of the pathogenetic mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, by using single and double immunohistochemical staining assays, Fas, Fas-L, p53, and Bcl-2 were measured simultaneously in RA and osteoarthritic (OA) and post-traumatic (PT) synovial tissues (ST) in order to understand the distribution of these apoptosis-related proteins. The TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method was performed to detect apoptotic cells. There was a significant increase of Fas, Fas-L, and p53 in RA ST, compared with OA or PT, but no significant difference of Bcl-2 expression was detected between patient groups. In RA ST, expression of Fas and p53 was detected in sub-lining layers and the majority of Fas- and p53-expressing cells were fibroblast-like synoviocytes. A positive correlation between Fas and p53 was demonstrated in RA ST. In RA ST, one-third of Fas-positive and 80% of p53-positive cells were also TUNEL-positive. These results indicate that apoptosis in RA is strongly associated with the expression of Fas and p53, but not Bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology-Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. ctchou@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019014:fas Receptor