C-reactive protein induced human endothelium cells apoptosis is associated with Bcl-2/Bax gene expression changes / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In the present study, we examined the expression changes of Bcl-2/Bax in C-reactive protein (CRP) treated human endothelium cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured by digest method for 2 - 3 posterities and incubated with human CRP (0, 1, 5, 25 mg/L for 24 hours) and analyzed by flow cytometer for apoptosis ratio. The effects of CRP in various concentrations on Bcl-2/Bax mRNA and protein expression were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Apoptosis ratio increased, downregulated Bcl-2 (gene promoting cell survival) and upregulated Bax (gene promoting apoptosis) at mRNA and protein levels in proportion to increased CRP concentrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results demonstrate that Bcl-2/Bax could be regulated by CRP in human HUVECs and might play a causal role in CRP-induced apoptosis.</p>