title: [Studies on apoptosis and caspase-8 and caspase-9 expressions of bone marrow cells in chronic mountain sickness].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the expressions of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA, and explore the changes of apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 18 CMS patients and 16 controls were enrolled in this study. The apoptotic index (AI) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) was measured by TUNEL technique, the levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in BMMNC of CMS patients and controls were determined by RT-PCR. Results (1)The AI of BMMNC in patients with CMS (8.51 ± 3.35)% was lower than that in controls (16.00 ± 4.28)% (P < 0.01); (2) The values of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA were (0.28 ± 0.07) and (0.23 ± 0.08) respectively, in CMS patients, which were significantly lower than those of (0.45 ± 0.09) and (0.41 ± 0.09) respectively, in the controls (both P < 0.01); (3) Hemoglobin (Hb) value was negatively correlated with levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA (r values were -0.52 and -0.61 respectively, both P < 0.05) in CMS patients. There was a negative correlation between AI and Hb (r value was -0.89, P < 0.01) in CMS patients. However, the significant relationship was not found between AI and level of caspase-8 or caspase-9 mRNA (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed a decrease apoptosis of BMMNCs and reduced levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in CMS patients, the latter might be involved in the change of BMMNCs apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, China.
authors.forename: Yu-liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Zhan-quan
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ke-xia
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9