title: [C-reactive protein induced human endothelium cells apoptosis is associated with Bcl-2/Bax gene expression changes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we examined the expression changes of Bcl-2/Bax in C-reactive protein (CRP) treated human endothelium cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured by digest method for 2 - 3 posterities and incubated with human CRP (0, 1, 5, 25 mg/L for 24 hours) and analyzed by flow cytometer for apoptosis ratio. The effects of CRP in various concentrations on Bcl-2/Bax mRNA and protein expression were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apoptosis ratio increased, downregulated Bcl-2 (gene promoting cell survival) and upregulated Bax (gene promoting apoptosis) at mRNA and protein levels in proportion to increased CRP concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that Bcl-2/Bax could be regulated by CRP in human HUVECs and might play a causal role in CRP-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xing-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Pei-zhang
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ning-fu
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein