title: [Expression of CD40 in gastric cancer and its effect on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hak Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Kew
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Woo Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jeong Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Doo Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens