Effect of cathepsin B on thymocyte apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
OBJECTIVE
To further investigate the mechanism of the thymus dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.


METHODS
The location of cathepsin B expression was determined by in situ hybridization. The expression of cathepsin B was analyzed by Northern blot, and thymocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and flow cytometer, respectively.


RESULTS
The expression of cathepsin B in thymus paralleled with thymocyte apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Cathepsin B transcripts were located in the plasma of thymocytes and were more over-expressed of 6- and 8-week-old SHR than those in the thymus of WKY.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymocyte apoptosis in SHR is increased and this phenomenon is associated with the expression of cathepsin B.
Zhao
X S
XS
Department of Physiology, Medical Center of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Tian
D Z
DZ
Ding
Y J
YJ
Zhu
Y C
YC
Yao
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002401:Cathepsin B; D009638:Norepinephrine