OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in apoptosis-related ligands in serum in rats with severe scald and the effect of intensive insulin therapy on the changes.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham burn (SB), scald (S) and treatment (T) groups. Rats in S and T groups were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness burn, followed by intraperitoneal injection with 40 mL/kg of isotonic saline for resuscitation. Rats in T group were subcutaneously injected insulin in a dose of 0.25 U/100 g 24 hours after burn injury, and every 12 hours for 5 days (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 U/100 g each day, respectively) to control the level of blood glucose between 3 and 6 mmol/L. Rats in SB group were sham scalded at 37 degrees C without resuscitation. Blood was drawn from abdominal aorta on 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 post burn day (PBD) for determination of serum levels of TNF-alpha, soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and soluble Fas receptor (sFas) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and insulin by radioimmunity assay (RIA).

RESULTSThe serum level of TNF-alpha in S group peaked on 1 PBD (30.9 +/- 8.7) ng/L, which showed statistically significant difference when compared with that of SB and T groups (12.7 +/- 2.8) ng/L, (16.8 +/- 4.7) ng/L, respectively, P < 0.01), then lowered gradually to become similar to that of SB group on 7 PBD. The level of TNF-alpha in T group increased gradually, but was obviously lower than that of S group on 1, 4, 7 PBD (P < 0.01). The level of sFasL in S (on 7-14 PBD) and T (4-10 PBD) groups was significantly higher than that in SB group (P < 0.05), then lowered to normal level. The levels of sFas on 4-10 PBD in T group were obviously higher than that in S and SB group (P < 0.05). Ratio of sFasL to sFas in serum of S group was higher than that in SB group on 7, 10 PBD, which was higher than that in T group on 7 PBD (P < 0.05). There was significant decrease in serum level of insulin in S group compared with that of SB group on 4-10 PBD (P < 0.05). The level of insulin in T group increased on 1 PBD, peaked on 4 PBD (327 +/- 15 microU/mL), which was significantly higher than that in SB and S groups (42 +/- 15, 28 +/- 10 microU/mL, respectively, P < 0.01), then decreased gradually to normal level.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin may inhibit apoptosis after burn by down-regulating secretion of apoptotic ligands.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; fas Receptor ; blood

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chronic Disease ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Middle Aged ; fas Receptor ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of levels and clinic significance of serum soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble FasL (sFasL) in coal workers' pneumonoconiosis.

METHODSSerum levels of sFas and sFasL were determined in 52 patients with silicosis, 57 coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, 46 healthy underground coal workers' (the underground control group) and 40 healthy volunteers working on the ground (the ground control group) with a sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSCompared to the underground control and the ground control group, the serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis were significantly higher (P < 0.01). Serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the underground control group were significantly higher than those in the ground control group (P < 0.01); Serum sFas levels in coal workers' pneumonoconiosis was significantly higher than those in the patients with silicosis (P < 0.01). Although the serum sFasL levels was also increased, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). In the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis patients, the serum sFas levels in Phase I patients combined with emphysema and simple Phase II + III patients were significantly higher than those in simple Phase I patients (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the serum sFasL levels among various groups with different parameters of pneumonoconiosis. In the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, serum levels of sFas and sFasL were not significantly altered among different duration of exposure to dusts. There was no correlation between serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the patients with silicosis while there was a slightly positive correlation between sFas and sFasL levels in the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis (r = 0.479, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, the serum levels of sFas and sFasL are abnormal and associated with the development of the pneumonoconiosis. The changes of serum sFas levels may indicate the development and progression of the pneumonoconiosis. The detection of the serum sFas level may be used in the differential diagnosis for the silicosis and the coal worker's pneumonoconiosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Coal Mining ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; fas Receptor ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the serum and placental levels of FAS and FASL in preeclampsia (PE) and to study its relationship with the disease.

METHODSForty women with preeclampsia and 39 healthy pregnant women were recruited and samples of serum and placentas were collected. The expression of Fas and FasL in placentas was detected with Western blot and the concentration of soluble Fas and FasL in serum was detected with ELISA method.

RESULTSerum levels of soluble Fas in PE group were significantly higher than those of healthy pregnant women (2.11+/-0.95 mg/L compared with 1.57+/-0.60 mg/L, P<0.05), and serum levels of soluble FasL in PE group were also significantly higher than those in controls (4.43+/-1.90 g/L compared with 3.48+/-1.53 g/L, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in Fas and FasL levels in placentas between PE group and healthy pregnant women (P>0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONThe elevated serum Fas and FasL levels are closely associated with preeclampsia, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; blood ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; fas Receptor ; blood

AIMTo investigate the effect of ligustrazine (LGT) on expression of Fas/FasL mRNA during pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury (PI/RI) in the rabbits.

METHODSSingle lung ischemia/reperfusion animal model was used in this study. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 30, in each): sham operated group (Sham), I/R group (I/R) and I/R + LGT group (I/R + LGT). Changes of several parameters which included apoptotic index (AI), wet to dry ratio of lung tissue weight (W/D) and index of quantitative assessment of histologic lung injury (IQA) were measured at 1h, 3h, 5h after reperfusion in lung tissue. Meanwhile the location and expression of Fas/FasL mRNA were observed. Lung tissue was prepared for light microscopic and electron microscopic ob servation at 1 h, 3 h, 5 h after reperfusion.

RESULTSAs compared with group I/R, Fas/FasL mRNA slightly expressed in intima and extima of small pulmonary artery, alveoli, and bronchiole epithelia in group LGT. The values of AI, W/D and IQA showed significantly lower in group I/R + LGT than that in group I/R at 1 h, 3 h, 5 h after reperfusion in lung tissue (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). Meanwhile, abnormal changes of the lung tissue in morphologically were lessen markedly in group I/R + LGT.

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine has notable protective effects on PI/RI in rabbits by inhibiting Fas/FasL mRNA express in lung tissue and decreasing apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Lung ; blood supply ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Apoptosis via Fas/FasL system is thought to be involved in the development of hepatocyte death in viral hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis C, sFas/sFasL system was reported to control liver injury induced by Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis. To determine the role of sFas/sFasL system in chronic hepatitis B, we analyzed serum sFas/sFasL in 58 HBV patients and 29 healthy controls. METHODS: HBV patients were categorized into two groups; normal ALT (< or =40 IU/L) and elevated ALT (>40 IU/L). Serum sFas/sFasL levels in HBV patients were measured by ELISA and was compared with those in 29 healthy controls. Serum ALT levels, histological activity, and Fas/FasL expression of liver were compared. RESULTS: Chronic hepatitis B patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Serum sFasL levels, however, were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Patients with moderate to marked degree of inflammation and fibrosis had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.05). Serum sFasL levels had no correlation with the hepatic histological activity. Serum sFas/sFasL levels also had no significant correlation with the Fas/FasL expression of liver. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sFas/sFasL levels play a possible role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B. These results suggest that serum sFas levels might serve as a marker for estimating the degree of hepatic histological activity.
Adult ; Antigens, CD95/analysis/*blood ; Fas Ligand Protein/analysis/*blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

This study was aimed to detect the expression of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg), sFas and sFasL in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP), and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis of AITP and clinical significance, so as to provide a theoretical basis for effective treatment for AITP. The expressions of CD4(+)T, Treg, CD4(+)CD25(-)T, Treg/CD4(+)T in peripheral blood of 30 the patients with AITP and 18 controls were detected by flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of sFas and sFasL in peripheral blood of controls and the patients with AITP before and after treatment. The results indicated that the expression rate of CD4(+)T in AITP patients was lower than that in the control (p < 0.05), and the expression rates of Treg and Treg/CD4(+)T were significantly lower than those of control (p < 0.01), but the expression rate of Treg between the two group had no difference (p > 0.05). The levels of sFas and sFasL in the peripheral blood of the patients before treatment were significantly higher than that after treatment and control group (p < 0.01), and no difference between the patients after treatment and the control group (p > 0.05) was found. The expression rates of Treg, Treg/CD4(+)T were positively related with the platelet count and the level of sFas was positively related with the level of sFasL in the peripheral blood of AITP before treatment. There were no significant correlation between the levels of CD4(+)T, Treg, sFas, sFasL and the platelet count. No correlation was seen between the expression of Treg and sFas, sFasL. It is concluded that CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg play a role in the pathogenesis of AITP; the expression rate of Treg is associated with the severity of AITP; the abnormal levels of sFas and sFasL participate in the immune pathogenesis of AITP.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; fas Receptor ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between levels of soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in serum and peritoneal fluid of endometriosis-associated infertility.

METHODSThe soluble Fas ligand and soluble Fas levels in serum and peritoneal fluid of 20 infertile patients with endometriosis were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were compared with 14 infertile patients due to chronic pelvic infectious disease and 16 fertile controls.

RESULTSThe sFasL levels were significantly higher in infertile patients with endometriosis (175.09 +/- 80.55 pg/mL in serum and 284.50 +/- 152.38 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid) than those of infertile controls (88.47 +/- 43.55 pg/mL in serum and 17.30 +/- 9.62 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid) and fertile controls (16.13 +/- 11.75 pg/mL in serum and 8.84 +/- 2.31 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid). In contrast, as for the sFas levels, infertile patients with endometriosis (828.60 +/- 429.65 pg/mL in serum and 349.61 +/- 288.89 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid) did not show any significant difference compared with those in infertile patients resulting from pelvic infectious disease (868.75 +/- 570.48 pg/mL in serum and 181.76 +/- 157.78 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid) and fertile control (822.26 +/- 129.12 pg/mL in serum and 318.42 +/- 145.16 pg/mL in peritoneal fluid).

CONCLUSIONSBased upon these results, high level of sFasL in serum and peritoneal fluid and thus apoptosis mediated by it may be implicated in the mechanism involved in endometriosis-related infertility.

Ascitic Fluid ; chemistry ; Endometriosis ; complications ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; metabolism ; Pelvic Infection ; complications ; metabolism ; Solubility ; fas Receptor ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sites and pattern of renal toxicity in rats treated with cisplatin and the protective effect of amifostine, and to understand whether Fas/FasL system is involved in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

METHODSForty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (0.9% saline solution), cisplatin group (6 mg/kg) and amifostine group (cisplatin 6 mg/kg + amifostine 200 mg/kg). Serum BUN and creatinine were measured by automatic biochemiscal analysis. Renal histopathological lesions were examined by light microscopy. TUNEL method was used for counting apoptotic cells. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis system were used for observing the expression of Fas/FasL system in renal tissues.

RESULTSCompared with control group and amifostine group, serum BUN and creatinine were significantly elevated on day 3 (P < 0.05) and day 5 (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), and recovered to normal on day 10. Severe necrosis and apoptosis of renal proximal tubular cells were revealed by elevated number of positively staining apoptotic cells examined by TUNEL method. Increased immunostaining intensity of Fas/FasL system in renal tissues in cisplatin-treated group was detected by immunohistochemistry and image analysis system.

CONCLUSIONAmifostine can reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and its mechanism is probably associated with the suppression of Fas/FasL expression in renal tissues.

Amifostine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Creatinine ; blood ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Necrosis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of FasL in rat cryptorchidism and its significance.

METHODSTwenty-four male SD rats (22-day old) were randomly divided into two groups: unilateral cryptorchid group (n = 12) and pseudo-operation group (n = 12). When the rats were 110-day old, blood samples were taken and the rats were killed for analysis. Immunohistochemical method (SP) was used to detect FasL expression in testes and ELISA method to detect serum antisperm antibody (AsAb).

RESULTSThe positive FasL expression rates in cryptorchid and contralateral testes were significantly higher than those in pseudo-operation group (P < 0.001). The serum AsAb positive rates in the cryptorchid group and the pseudo-operation group were 41.7% and 0, respectively, with significant difference(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFasL expression upregulating in both testes of the unilateral cryptorchid rat may be a protective response of the testis to autoimmunity.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Cryptorchidism ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; biosynthesis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; immunology ; Testis ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation