[Fas-FasL and caspase-3 signal transduction pathway and apoptosis of peripheral T lymphocytes in ITP patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between Fas-FasL-mediated signal transduction pathway and apoptosis of T lymphocyte subset in ITP patients.


METHODS
The expression rates of membrane Fas, FasL and intracellular activated caspase-3 in peripheral T lymphocyte subset were determined by flow cytometry. T cell subsets with caspase-3 protein expression were detected by Western blot.


RESULTS
As compared with that in healthy control group [(29.4 +/- 8.2)%], the expression rate of membrane Fas on CD4+ T cells was significantly increased in ITP patients [(42.1 +/- 9.5)%] (P < 0.05), however, that on CD8+ T cells was only slightly increased [(9.3 +/- 6.0)% vs (13.4 +/- 5.8)%] with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The expression rate of FasL on T cell subset in ITP patients was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and that of intracellular activated caspase-3 in T cell subset in ITP patients was notably higher than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the expression of pro-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3 in CD4+ T cells in patients with ITP after treatment were significantly reduced compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis of T lymphocyte subset in ITP patients is accelerated. It is possible that Fas-FasL signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the induction of the apoptosis. The degree of apoptosis of T lymphocytes closely correlates with the disease's activity in ITP patients. Hormone therapy may interfere with Fas-FasL signal transduction pathway of apoptosis.
Department of Hematology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing 312000, China.
Yong-Gen
YG
Zhong
Wei-Ying
WY
Feng
Hong-Qiang
HQ
Luo
Jia-Ping
JP
Fu
Jie
J
Jin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D053148:Caspase 3