Increased apoptosis and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3 gene expression in human intracranial aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and caspase-3 expression in ruptured intracranial aneurysm.


METHODS
Tissue samples of 15 ruptured intracranial aneurysms, 6 abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and 6 normal vessels were evaluated. Apoptosis in VSMCs was determined on transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry for alpha-SMC actin and direct cell counts (medial VSMCs per high-power field (HPF)) were employed to determine medial VSMC density. Additionally, gene expression of caspase-3 was determined using real-time RT-PCR.


RESULTS
We demonstrated medial VSMCs exhibiting morphological apoptotic changes in cerebral aneurysm and AAA. Medial VSMC density was significantly decreased in intracranial aneurysm (43.9+/-4.3 SMCs/HPF) and AAA (53.2+/-9.4 SMCs/HPF) compared with the normal arteries (222.8+/-12.1 SMCs/HPF; p<0.01). An 8.94-fold and 6.73-fold increase in expression of caspase-3mRNA in intracranial aneurysm and AAA, respectively, were obtained relative to the normal vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that real time RT-PCR provides a useful tool to test gene expression in small samples, and may contribute to a better understanding of the role of apoptosis in ruptured intracranial aneurysm.
Guo
Fuyou
F
Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China.
Li
Zhihua
Z
Song
Laijun
L
Han
Tianwang
T
Feng
Qiaoxian
Q
Guo
Yuda
Y
Xu
Jianguo
J
He
Min
M
You
Chao
C
D000328:Adult; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053148:Caspase 3