The Effects of Nitric Oxide on Expres-sion Of Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and Fas Pro-teins in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

ABSTRACTAim To better understand the inhibition of growthand induction of apoptosis in smooth muscle cells(VSMC) by nitric oxide (NO) and the mechanism inthese processes.Methods Cultured rat VSMC at passage 5 to 8 wereused for experiment. After reaching 60 % ~70 % con-fluence, VSMCs were preincubated for 24 h (at least)with serum free Dubecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM ) to become quiescent before the experiments.Then SNAP (0. 4 mol/L) was added to the medium.The cells were fixed with 3% paraformaldehyde after 8h. Expression of Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and Fas in VSMCwere examined by fluorescein immunocytochemistrymethods through ACAS 570.Results Expression of Bcl-2 was decreased by NO.But expression of Bax , P53 , and Fas were increased byNO.Conclusion Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and Fas may take partin the effects of NO on inhibition of growth and induc-tion of apoptosis in VSMCs.KEY WORDS Nitric oxide; Vascular smoothmuscle cells : Bcl-2 ; Bax ; P53 ; Fas