[Role of Fas and FasL expression in apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in hypoxia induced by inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 in rat].

To investigate the role of Fas and FasL expression in apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxia induced by inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) in rat.,The cells were cultured in hypoxia (<1% O(2)) for 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours respectively. Then cell apoptosis was observed with terminal deoxynudeotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). The changes in fas and fasl mRNA expression in PASMCs were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (sqRT-PCR) in vitro. The expression of Fas and FasL protein in cells was determined immunohistochemically.,No significant changes in the expression of fas/fasL mRNA and protein between cells transfected with NHE-1 ribozyme gene and cells transfected with pLXSN, or non-transfected control in hypoxia.,Apoptosis of PASMCs induced by NHE-1 inhibition may occur independently of Fas/FasL death pathway.