[Regulation of Bcl-2 expression in ageing T cells by CD137 and CD28].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of the costimulatory molecules CD137 and CD28 on Bcl-2 expression in T cells of mice with D-galactose-induced aging and natural aging.


METHODS
Seven-week-old male BALB/c mice were injected daily with D-galactose (120 mg/kg) for 5 months to induce subacute aging, and 16-month-old male BALB/c mice served as the natural aging group. The spleen T cells of were isolated from the rats and stimulated in vitro with conA+IgG, conA+CD137 mAb or conA+CD28 mAb for 48 h. Bcl-2 expression of T cells was detected by flow cytometry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.


RESULTS
In the subacute aging group, Bcl-2 protein expression rate in the T cells stimulated with conA+IgG, conA+CD137 mAb and conA+CD28 mAb were (24.4-/+1.5)%, (34.4-/+2.4) %, and (45.1-/+2.7) %, which were (19.6-/+2.0) %, (26.3-/+1.9) %, and (48.5-/+2.2) % in the natural aging group, respectively. In vitro stimulation with conA+IgG, conA+CD137 mAb and conA+CD28 mAb resulted in expression rate of bcl-2 mRNA in the T cells of 0.309-/+0.039, 0.547-/+0.036, and 0.780-/+0.041 in the subacute aging group, and 0.283-/+0.038, 0.535-/+0.041, and 0.771-/+0.063 in the natural aging group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CD137 and CD28 can promote bcl-2 expression at both mRNA and protein level in T cells in aging mice, which may be one of the mechanisms through which CD137 and CD28 molecules inhibit aging T cell apoptosis and maintain their function.
Yang
Lin
L
Guangzhou Sanitarium of PLA, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. youngnil@163.com
Guo
Ming-qiu
MQ
Chen
Li-yin
LY
D000818:Animals; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / Q000378:metabolism*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9