[Effect of recombinant beta-defensin-2 peptide on apoptosis of pulmonary tissue in rats with sepsis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of recombinant beta-defensin 2 (BD-2) on the apoptosis of pulmonary tissue in rats with sepsis.


METHODS
Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into defensin group and controls. In control group 24 rats received 10(7)PFU adenovirus via trachea intubation. In defensin group 24 rats received 10(7)PFU recombinant adenovirus carrying all expression cassette of rat BD-2 (Ad-rBD2). All rats received cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis 48 h following the administration of adenovirus. Rats of both groups were sacrificed at 0, 12, 36 and 72 h after CLP; lungs were removed and fixed for Haematoxylin and Eosin (HE) stain. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique.


RESULTS
The apoptosis index (AI) of lung cells increased significantly following CLP in control group,while it was significantly lower in defensin group than that of control group (P<0.05). In addition, a significant alveolar damage, interstitial edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in control lungs, while it was less severe in defensin group.


CONCLUSIONS
Recombinant beta-defensin 2 may reduce the apoptosis of lung cells and attenuate lung injury.
Xu
Xiao-yi
XY
Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Shi
Zhuo
Z
Bao
Jun-ming
JM
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D023083:beta-Defensins