title: Expressions of Fas/DcR3 and RGD-FasL mediated apoptosis in pituitary adenomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the expressions of Fas/DcR3 and to investigate the cytotoxic effects of RGD-FasL on pituitary adenoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fas/DcR3 mRNAs were detected by Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and their surface expressions were measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicities exerted by FasL and newly-constructed RGD-FasL on tumor cells were measured with 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptotic cells were examined by electron microscopy and the induced apoptosis was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry with ANNEXIN V FITC/PI. The expressions of caspases, Bcl-2, RANKL and JNK2 were detected by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fas/DcR3 was expressed in GH3/MMQ/AtT20 cells. The cytotoxic effects of RGD-FasL on tumor cells were seen in a dose-dependent manner. These cells showed the same sensitivity to RGD-FasL as to FasL. RGD-FasL induced apoptosis and G1/G0 arrest. The expressions of caspase-8/9/3, RANKL, JNK2 were increased while that of Bcl-2 was decreased with treatment of RGD-FasL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fas can be a novel target for the treatment of pituitary adenomas. RGD-FasL induces apoptosis of pituitary adenoma cells through caspase activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian - 361 004, China. neuro_clk@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lukui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wenzhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b; C505911:TNFRSF6B protein, human; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D019014:fas Receptor; C022616:thiazolyl blue