[Expression of CD40 in gastric cancer and its effect on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells].
OBJECTIVE
The expression of CD40 in gastric cancer has not been studied. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of CD40 in gastric cancer and to investigate the effect of CD40 on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.


METHODS
We examined the expression of CD40 by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. CD40 mRNA in 5 gastric cancer cell lines was analyzed by RT-PCR. To assess the effect of CD40 on the viability of gastric cancer cells, we performed MTT assay. The effect of CD40 signaling on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells was examined by annexin V affinity assay.


RESULTS
Twelve of twenty human gastric cancer tissues demonstrated positive staining for CD40. Among 5 gastric cancer cell lines, AGS cell line expressed membrane-bound CD40 antigen and CD40 mRNA. In AGS cells, CD40 stimulation significantly reduced the cell viability. CD40 ligation significantly increased the apoptosis in AGS cells compared to the control.


CONCLUSIONS
CD40 is expressed in human gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell line, and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. These results suggest that CD40 expression in gastric cancer may play an important role in host defense mechanism against the gastric cancer.
Kim
Sang Woo
SW
Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Hak Sung
HS
Yoon
Seung Kew
SK
Chung
Woo Chul
WC
Cho
Young Seok
YS
Jeong
Jeong Jo
JJ
Lee
In Seok
IS
Lee
Kang Moon
KM
Lee
Dong Soo
DS
Choi
Myung-Gyu
MG
Chung
In-Sik
IS
Park
Doo Ho
DH
D017209:Apoptosis; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D019013:CD40 Antigens