• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2003

The Fas antigen (Fas) as a cell-surface receptor protein which mediates apoptosis-inducing signals plays an important role in the immune system. Expression of Fas mRNA is detected not only in lymphoid organs but also in the nonlymphoid organs. In the ovary, most of the follicles is known to undergo atreisa through apoptosis. However, the exact mechanism of atresia was not elucidated yet. Therefore, the purposes of the present study were to investigate the expression of Fas and Fas ligand in mouse ovary and to clarify the relationship between expression of Fas and Fas ligand and atresia of follicle. The result of RT-PCR demonstrated that Fas and Fas ligand mRNA was expressed in ovary, especially granulosa cells and oocytes. The immunohistochemistry showed that the granulosa cells and oocytes in growing follicles were stained for Fas and Fas ligand, but primordial follicles were not. Furthermore, Fas and Fas ligand were intensively stained in the atretic follicles As results of TUNEL staining to detect apoptotic cells in the ovaries, the number of TUNEL-positive (apoptotic) granulosa cells and oocytes increased in the atretic follicles compared to the healthy normal follicles. These results demonstrate that there is the positive relationship between expression of Fas and Fas ligand in granulosa cells and oocyies and apoptosis of them leading to atresia of follicles. It suggests that expression of Fas and Fas ligand could be associated with atresia of follicles in mouse ovary.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.83-87
• /
• 2000

To investigate exhausted-medium-induced apoptosis in human corneal epithelial(HCE) cells, this study was performed DNA gel electrophoresis, M30 CytoDEATH staining and FAS-FAS ligand ELISA. SV-40 transfected cells were grown to confluency in culture for 7days. The supernatant was harvested and filtered with $0.22{\mu}m$ filter paper. Fresh HCE cells were exposed to the filtered exhausted medium for 1~2 days. Apoptotic cells were prepared for DNA extraction and run the agarose gel for DNA ladder pattern. M30 CytoDEATH was used a tool for easy and reliable determination of very early apoptosis in HCE cells. The control and exhausted medium were assayed for soluble FAS/FAS ligand protein by ELISA. HCE cells exposed to exhausted medium showed a typical DNA ladder pattern. Sporadic M30 CytoDEATH positive cells were detected among HCE cells exposed to exhausted medium. Soluble FAS/FAS ligand levels were not elevated in the exhausted medium compared to the fresh medium control. This study suggests that possible mechanism of exhausted medium induced apoptosis does not include the FAS-FAS ligand system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.402-406
• /
• 2004

This research team found in previous studies, that the ginseng saponin metabolite IH901 induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells via a mitochondrial-mediated pathway, which resulted in the activation of caspase-9 and subsequently of caspase-3 and -8. Based on these results, the involvement of the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) death-receptor pathway, in IH901-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, was investigated. Levels of Fas and the Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA or protein were not increased by IH901, rather they were decreased significantly at 18 h post treatment. Soluble FasL (sFasL) was detectable by immunoprecipitation analysis En the medium of HepG2 cells treated with IH901. Increased levels of sFasL were inversely correlated with the levels of FasL. Preincubation of HepG2 cells with antagonistic anti-Fas antibody showed little protective effect, if any, on IH901-induced cell death. At a $30{\mu}M$ (24 and 48 h) and $40{\mu}M$ (24 h) concentration of IH901, the cytotoxic effect of IH901 was less then $50\%$, anti-Fas antibody prevented IH901-induced cell death. However, at a $60{\mu}M$ (24 and 48 h) and $40{\mu}M$ (48 h) concentration of IH901, cell death rates were about $80\%$ or more and most of the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of IH901 were manifested. Blocking the Fas receptor did not influence IH901-induced cell death. These results indicate that the Fas/FasL system is engaged, but not required for IH901-induced cell death, at pharmacologically significant concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2007

The aim of the present study was to determine mechanisms of corneal epithelial cell apoptosis in vitro following exposure to anti-FAS and anti-FAS ligand antibody and during infection with mycoplasma sp.. A cultured human corneal epithelial(HCE) cell line was treated with anti-FAS antibody or anti-FAS ligand antibody for 2 and 4 days. The original cell line was found to be contaminated by mycoplasma removal agent(MRA) was used to eliminate the bacterium from the cell line. MRA($0.5{\mu}{\ell}$ tissue culture medium) was added to the cell line and incubated for 1 week. The cell line underwent multiple passages in media not contaminating MRA and cells were grown to 50-80% confluency on coverslips and stained using the Hoechst stain provided in the kit to ensure mycoplasma removal. Apoptosis experiments were performed before and after mycoplasma removal. The apoptotic index of anti-FAS and anti-FAS ligand antibody on mycoplasma contaminated cell line was studied using Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V-FITC and Propidium Iodide Staining. In conclusion, anti-FAS antibody induces apoptosis in HCE cells in a time and concentration-dependent mechanism. Cell lines contaminated with mycoplasma have an incresed susceptibility to FAS induced apoptosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.222-226
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The interaction of the Fas: Fas ligand has been recognized to play an important role in radiation induced apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Fas and Fas ligand mutations, in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo. Materials and Methods: Mice with a mutation in the Fas ($C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}$) and its normal control (C57BL/6J) and the Fas ligand ($C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$) and its normal control (C3H/HeJ), were used in this study. Eight-week old male mice were given whole body radiation. After irradiation, the mice were killed at various time intervals, and their spleens collected. Tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the numbers of apoptotic cells scored. The regulating molecules of apoptosis including the p53, Bcl-2, Bax, $Bcl-X_L\;and\;Bcl-X_s$ genes were also analyzed by Western blotting. Results: With 2.5 Gy and 10 Gy of irradiation, the levels of apoptosis were lower in the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}\;and\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$ mice than in the control mice (p<0.05). With the expression of apoptosis regulating molecules, the Bax was increased in both the C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice in response to radiation; the peak levels of Bax in the C57BL6J and C3H/HeJ were 3 and 3.3-fold higher after 8hr, respectively. However the Bax was not increased in either the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}\;or\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$mice. The p53, Bcl-X_L,\;Bcl-X_S$and Bcl-2 showed no significant changes in the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr},\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$, C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice. Conclusion: The levels of radiation-induced apoptosis were lower in the lpr and gld, than the control mice, which seemed to be related to the level of Bax activation due to the radiation in the lpr and gld mice. This result suggests that Fas/Fas L plays an important role in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 1999

Induction of apoptosis is considered to be the underlying mechanism that accounts for the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs. It has recently been proposed that doxorubicin (DOX) can induce apoptosis in human leukemic cells via the Fas/Fas Ligand (FasL) system. Comparison of Fas and FasL mRNA expression between drug- and anti-Fas antibody(Fas-Ab)- induced apoptosis was analyzed for examining the role of Fas/FasL system in the mediation of drug-induced apoptosis. After HL-60 cells were routinely cultured, MTT assay was performed for cytotoxicity test. Giemsa staining was carried out to monitor the apoptosis morphologically. By semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis, the expression of Fas and FasL at 4, 10, 24 hours was determined after DOX and Fas-Ab treatment. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was induced by DOX-treatment, while Fas-Ab treatment showed the similar dose-dependent pattern but the cytotoxicity is not reached at LD$_{50}$ at 100 ng/ml concentration of Fas-Ab. In the 10ng/m1 DOX and 10ng/m1 Fas-Ab treated group, typical apoptotic cell morphology was shown such as fragmented nuclei and cell membrane budding in the Giemsa-stained slide. Fas mRNA expression was not changed significantly in the both groups. But, FasL mRNA expression was induced significantly at initial period of apoptosis. In this study, Fas/FasL interaction assumed to be involved in drug-induced apoptosis.s.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.167-178
• /
• 2002

Objective : The present study was performed to investigate whether apoptosis occur in human embryos by annexin staining and detect the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), Bax, and Bcl-2 in human fragmented embryos derived from IVF-ET by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Materials and Methods: Using annexin staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis on normal and fragmented embryos, we were able to detect apoptotsis and apoptotic gene products in fragmented embryos. Result: Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, the marker for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented embryos. Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected in both fragmented and non-fragmented embryos. When fragmented embryos compared to normal embryos, immunofluorescent intensity of Bcl-2 tended to be lower in fragmented embryos. Bax gene expression increased in the fragmented embryos compared to the normal embryos. This result supports a model in which the molar ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines whether apoptosis induced or inhibited in human embryo. Fas was highly expressed in human preimplantation embryos but not FasL. It suggests that embryo may undergo apoptosis by binding with FasL produced by follicular or immune cells. Conclusion: The over expression of Bax and Fas will trigger apoptosis to lead embryo fragmentation and change embryo to be nonviable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.198-202
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Fas is a cell surface receptor that transduces apoptotic death signals. Interaction of extracelluar domain of Fas with Fas ligand(FasL) triggers the apoptotic process in many diseases. We investigated the expression of Fas and FasL in the hippocampus of 7-day-old newborn rat brains following hypoxia-ischemia injury. Methods : The 7-days-old newborn rats were exposed to 8 percent oxygen for two hours after the ligation of right common carotid arteries. The newborn rats were killed and their brains were removed at 12, 14 and 48 hours after hypoxic-ischemic injury. The expressions of Fas and FasL of the right hippocampus were observed by western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Results : Fas and FasL were strongly expressed in the right hippocampus ipsilateral to the ligation of the common carotid artery by western blotting at 12 hours following hypoxic-ischemic injury, and then slowly decreased. The immunofluorescent expressions of Fas and FasL strongly increased in the CA1 area of the right hippocampus at 12 and 24 hours following hypoxic-ischemic injury. The immunofluorescent expression of Fas decreased at 48 hours, but the expression of FasL persisted strongly at 48 hours following hypoxic-ischemic injury. Conclusion : The interaction of Fas with FasL on the cell surface may be involved in neuronal injury following hypoxic-ischemic injury in the developing brain.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2005

The present report aimed at evaluating the effect of bisphenol A(BPA) and diethylstilbestrol(DES) on Leydig or Sertoli cell-lines. To identify the differences in the susceptibility to BPA upon different cell-types, assay of the cell viability was done on TM3(Leydig cells) and TM4(Sertoli cells) cell-lines. The result indicates that Sertoli cells are more sensitive to low dose of BPA than Leydig cells. Also, the BPA- or DES-treated Sertoli cells showed a reduction of phospholipase D(PLD) activity identically. According to the confirmation of the mRNA expression of fas receptor and fas ligand in the BPA-treated cells, fas/fasL system activated by BPA will deliver the apoptosis signal onto Sertoli TM4 cells. However, Fas/FasL system was not activated in the DES-treated cells unlike the BPA-treated cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2002

Objective : To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. Materials and Methods: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from $32{\sim}45$. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. Results: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. Conclusion: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.