EFFECT OF TLR LIGANDS ON INTRACELLULAR BAX EXPRESSION OF NEUTROPHILS

[Objective]In order to explore new progress about neutrophil survival,and the effects of TLR ligands on apoptosis and intracellular Bax protein expression.[Methods]Heparinized peripheral blood was obtained from healthy volunteers.The neutrophils were cultured at the presence or absence of TLR ligands(LPS and PGN)for the indicated time periods.Apoptosis of neutrophils was detected by flow cytometric analysis.The expression of Bax protein of neutrophils was examined by Western blotting analysis.[Results]Flow cytometry indicated that LPS and PGN delayed neutrophil apoptosis.Western blotting showed that the expression of Bax protein in nuetrophils was down-regulated by the TLR ligands.[Conclusion]LPS and PGN might delay spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils by reducing the expression of Bax protein in neutrophils.