[Role of polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis and expression of Fas and caspase-3 in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis and expression of Fas and caspase-3 in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

METHODS

Eight acute pancreatitis patients with SIRS, 6 healthy control subjects were enrolled to study apoptosis of PMN in peripheral blood samples, expression of Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) and caspase-3 in the PMN, the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 were observed.

RESULTS

Spontaneous apoptosis was significantly delayed in PMN from the SIRS patients with higher serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels compared with controls (both P<0.01). PMN apoptosis rate in peripheral blood of patients with SIRS was lowered than that of controls (P<0.01). The expressions of Fas and caspase-3 in the peripheral circulating PMN were higher in the controls than those in the SIRS patients (both P<0.01). Serum FasL expression was not found by Western blotting 24 hours after culture of PMN in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral circulating PMN from acute pancreatitis patients with SIRS show delayed apoptosis, decreased expressions of Fas and caspase-3, and prolonged PMN survival may contribute to the development of systemic inflammatory injury characteristic of SIRS.