Molecular mechanism of bovine trabecular meshwork cells apoptosis induced by dexamethasone and protection by pilocarpine.

To study the molecular mechanism of trabecular meshwork cells apoptosis induced by dexamethasone and the protection of pilocarpine.,Determining mRNA expression with reverse transcription-polymerase chain protein expression with Western blots and the percentage of reaction (RT-PCR), apoptotic cells with fluorescent microscopy.,Dexamethasone up-regulated Fas proteins and affected Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins in an action of first decrease then increase. Pre -treatment with pilocarpine decreased the four proteins expression, which were increased by dexamethasone. Pilocarpine self could decrease pro-apoptotic factors Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins expression.,Fas/FasL pathway participated in apoptotic process induced by dexamethasone in trabecular meshwork cells and the process was probably related with both caspase-8 and caspase-9 pathways. Pilocarpine protected the cells against apoptosis through down-regulating Fas, Bax, caspase-8 and caspase-9 proteins expression.