[Role of Fas and FasL expression in apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in hypoxia induced by inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 in rat].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of Fas and FasL expression in apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxia induced by inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) in rat.


METHODS
The cells were cultured in hypoxia (<1% O(2)) for 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours respectively. Then cell apoptosis was observed with terminal deoxynudeotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). The changes in fas and fasl mRNA expression in PASMCs were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (sqRT-PCR) in vitro. The expression of Fas and FasL protein in cells was determined immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
No significant changes in the expression of fas/fasL mRNA and protein between cells transfected with NHE-1 ribozyme gene and cells transfected with pLXSN, or non-transfected control in hypoxia.


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis of PASMCs induced by NHE-1 inhibition may occur independently of Fas/FasL death pathway.
Lu
Jun-yu
JY
Department of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China. lujunyu1026@yahoo.com.cn
Yao
Wei
W
Qian
Gui-sheng
GS
Wu
Guo-ming
GM
Chen
Wei-zhong
WZ
Li
Shu-ping
SP
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D019014:fas Receptor