title: Lactate dehydrogenase leakage as a marker for apoptotic cell degradation induced by influenza virus infection in human fetal membrane cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to elucidate the implication of apoptosis in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage from influenza virus-infected cells, the effects of a general caspase inhibitor, N-t-Boc-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Boc-D-fmk), on LDH leakage, apoptosis induction and virus proliferation were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured human fetal membrane chorion and amnion cells were incubated with or without Boc-D-fmk after influenza virus infection. LDH leakage was estimated by measuring LDH activities in the culture supernatants and cell lysates. The extent of apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 protein cleavage and DNA fragmentation. Virus proliferation was determined by a plaque-forming assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While virus proliferation was observed in both chorion and amnion cells, the virus infection resulted in LDH leakage, caspase-3 protein cleavage, and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, all of which were observed only in the chorion cells and inhibited by the presence of Boc-D-fmk except for the virus proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LDH level in amniotic fluid is known to be one of markers for predicting fetal membrane damage. Therefore, this study provides a possible diagnostic application of LDH level to predict the extent of tissue damage of fetal membranes via apoptosis induced by influenza virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Genetics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. uchide@ps.toyaku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchide
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohyama
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bessho
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoda
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000254:growth & development*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D053148:Caspase 3