Effects of leptin on hypoxia-reoxygenation induced apoptosis in human L02 cells and expression of Fas and FasL

AIM: To observe the effect of leptin (LEP) on hypoxia-reoxygenation induced apoptosis in L02 cells.METHODS: In the experiment, L02 cell injury was induced by hypoxic air (95%N2 and 5% CO2). The cultured L02 cells were divided into hypoxic 12 h group (IR group) alone, normal control group and the hypoxic plus leptin (100 μg/L, 200μg/L, 400 μg/L, 800 μg/L and 1 600 μg/L) treatment groups in vitro. Flow cytometry, terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to measure the changes of apoptosis in L02 cells and expression of Fas/FasL mRNA.RESULTS: (1) The percentage of L02 cells apoptosis and positive TUNEL cells significantly increased in IR group compared to control group (P<0.01). When L02 cells were treated with LEP, the percentage of cell apoptosis and positive TUNEL cells were decreased compared to IR group. (2) Compared to control group, the Fas/FasL mRNA expression significantly increased in IR group (P<0.01). When L02 cells were treated with LEP, the Fas/FasL mRNA expression decreased compared to IR group, the effect of LEP at concentration of 400 μg/L was obviously (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LEP decreases the apoptosis of hypoxic-reoxygenation L02 cells by down-regulation of Fas/FasL mRNA expression in L02 cells.