Objective: To study the expression of Fas antigen on lymphocytes in patients with asthma.
Method: The peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) isolated from patients with asthma were cultured with dexamethasone 10(-5) mol/L, Fas antigen on lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry at 0, 2nd, 8th, 24th hour respectively.
Result: The native expression of Fas antigen of PBL isolated from the patients with asthma (5.3% +/- 2.0%, P < 0.05) was lower than that from healthy controls (8.5% +/- 1.8%). Increased expression of Fas antigen in the patients with asthma was observed with induction of dexamethasone (P < 0.01). The percentages of Fas positive cell were 5.3% +/- 2.0%, 33% +/- 5%, 63% +/- 11%, 76% +/- 7% at 0, 2nd, 8th, 24th hour respectively in asthmatic group. While 8.5% +/- 1.8%, 31% +/- 11%, 49% +/- 10%, 20% +/- 4% respectively in normal control group.
Conclusion: Decreased native expression of Fas on lymphocytes may be related to airway inflammation in the patients with asthma. Increased expression of Fas induced by Dex may be one of the mechanism of lymphocytes apoptosis.