致死剂量的γ线照射后小鼠胸腺淋巴细胞的凋亡规律及与bax、bcl-2和Bcl-XL表达的关系

目的：观察致死剂量γ线照射后小鼠胸腺淋巴细胞凋亡特征及与Bax、Bcl-2和Bcl-XL蛋白和mRNA表达的关系，为急性重度以上放射病的治疗提供依据。方法：清洁级C57小鼠250只，随机分为0、6、9、12、15和20 Gy6个剂量组.经γ线全身1次照射后，于照射后1～28d和3～12个月，活杀取胸腺和外周血，用原位末端标记(TUNEL)和麦格-姬姆萨(MGG)染色检测胸腺淋巴细胞的凋亡：用原位杂交和碱性磷酸酶免疫组化染色法，检测Bax、Bcl-2和Bcl-XL mRNA和其蛋白的表达。结果.(1)各剂量组小鼠外周血白细胞在照射后6h，出现一过性的升高，以后迅速下降.6Gy照射后7d降至最低，至照射后28d基本恢复到正常水平：(2)不同剂量的γ线照射后24h，胸腺淋巴细胞的凋亡率迅速升高；在6～12Gy范围内与照射的剂量呈正比，≥15Gy照射后变化不明显。(3)6Gy照射后24h，胸腺淋巴细胞的凋亡率达高峰，而后开始降低；但直至照射后6个月和12个月，凋亡率仍明显高于对照组。(4)6Gy照射后3h，胸腺淋巴细胞中Bax蛋白的表达即出现增加，至24h达峰值，显示出时效关系；而Bcl-2蛋白于照射后3h即明显下降，24h降至最低；Bcl-XL蛋白也在照射后24h降至最低。bax和bel-2 mRNA的检测与蛋白水平的检测一致。结论：经6～12 Gy照射后，淋巴细胞的凋亡与照射剂量成正比，≥15 Gy照射后凋亡率下降，提示≤12 Gy照射后胸腺淋巴细胞的凋亡是其死亡的主要方式。促凋亡蛋白Bax表达的增加及抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-XL表达的下降，与照射剂量和淋巴细胞的凋亡率呈现较好的对应关系，提示它们在致死剂量的照射所致胸腺淋巴细胞凋亡的调控中起着重要作用。

Relationship between apoptosis of mouse thymic lymphocytes and expressions of bax,bcl-2 and bcl-XL after γ-ray radiation with lethal dose

AIM: To observe the relationship between apoptosis of mouse thymic lymphocytes and the expressions of bax, bcl-2 and bcl-X(L) after gamma-ray radiation with lethal dose and provide the basis for treatment of acute severe radiation sickness. METHODS: 250 cleaning-grade C57 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups and treated with 0, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 20 Gy of whole body single gamma-irradiation, respectivety. The mice were killed by dislocation and then the thymus and peripheral blood samples were taken at 1-28 days and 3-12 months after irradiation. The lymphocytic apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL. The expressions of bax, bcl-2 and bcl-X(L) were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: (1)Mouse peripheral leucocytes showed a transient elevation at 6 h after radiation and then decreased rapidly. The leucocyte's number reduced to minimal level at day 7 after 6 Gy gamma-irradiation and returned to basic normal value until one month after radiation. (2)24 h after irradiation the apoptotic rate of thymic lymphocytes increased swiftly, and apoptotic rate was positively correlated with radiation dose in the range of 6-12 Gy. There was no such a correlation after >/=15 Gy irradiation. (3)24 h after 6 Gy irradiation the apoptotic rate of thymic lymphocytes reached the maximal level. Afterwards it began to decrease, but still higher than that of control group even after 12 months. (4)3 h after 6 Gy radiation the expression of Bax protein in thymic lymphocytes increased immediately, and reached the highest value at 24 h. On the other hand, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) proteins reduced evidently at 3 h after radiation, reaching the lowest level at 24 h. Analysis of bax and bcl-2 mRNAs was concordant with the protein expression results. CONCLUSION: After 6-12 Gy gamma-ray irradiation, the apoptotic rate of thymic lymphocytes is positively correlated with the radiation doses, suggesting that apoptosis is a major way of thymic lymphocyte death after