title: Molecular mechanism of bovine trabecular meshwork cells apoptosis induced by dexamethasone and protection by pilocarpine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the molecular mechanism of trabecular meshwork cells apoptosis induced by dexamethasone and the protection of pilocarpine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Determining mRNA expression with reverse transcription-polymerase chain protein expression with Western blots and the percentage of reaction (RT-PCR), apoptotic cells with fluorescent microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dexamethasone up-regulated Fas proteins and affected Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins in an action of first decrease then increase. Pre -treatment with pilocarpine decreased the four proteins expression, which were increased by dexamethasone. Pilocarpine self could decrease pro-apoptotic factors Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fas/FasL pathway participated in apoptotic process induced by dexamethasone in trabecular meshwork cells and the process was probably related with both caspase-8 and caspase-9 pathways. Pilocarpine protected the cells against apoptosis through down-regulating Fas, Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510089, China.
authors.forename: Yajuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Pengxin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Guangmei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D010862:Pilocarpine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9