Expression and significance of death receptor 5 in aplastic anemia

Objective To investigate the expression of death receptors(DR5) of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the bone marrow mononuclear cells in aplastic anemia patients, and to approach its effects on apoptosis of haemopoietic stem cells in aplastic anemia. Methods Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) was used to detect the gene expressions of DR5 mRNA in mononuclear cells of bone marrow from 12 cases of aplastic anemia (AA group), 11 AA cases with complete remission (CR group), and 12 normal controls (control group). Results ① DR5 mRNA was expressed in AA group, CR group and control group. ②The level of DR5 mRNA expression in AA group was higher than that in CR group and control group (P0.05). ③There is no statistical difference in DR5 mRNA expression between CR group and control group (P0.05). Conclusion The highest level of DR5 mRNA expression as found in mononuclear cells in patients with aplastic anemia suggested that DR5 may be playing an important role in pathogenesis of aplastic anemia.