Biomedical subjects

Ling Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Ling Zhang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

A sandwich tubular scaffold derived from chitosan for blood vessel tissue engineering.

Many materials have been investigated in blood vessel tissue engineering, such as PGA, PLGA, P4HB. However, chitosan is not mentioned in the arena. This study aimed to develop a chitosan-based tubular scaffold and examine its feasibility of being applied in this field. Briefly, a knitted chitosan tube was dipped into chitosan solution (2%, w/v) and dried, then its inner and outer surface was mantled with a layer of chitosan/gelatin (4:1, w/w) complex solution, and then freeze-dehydrated. In vitro characterization showed that the scaffold had a wall of 1.0 mm in thickness with a sandwich structure, and a porosity of 81.2%. The pore diameter was 50-150 microm and could be regulated by varying freezing conditions. The scaffold possessed proper swelling property, burst strength of almost 4000 mmHg, and high suture-retention strength. After degradation for 2 months, the scaffold could maintain enough mechanical strength with an average mass loss of 18.7%. Vascular smooth muscle cells could spread and grow very well on the scaffold. This study provided a novel method to fabricate chitosan and its complex into a tubular scaffold and demonstrated the feasibility of the scaffold employed in the field of blood vessel tissue engineering.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Porous chitosan tubular scaffolds with knitted outer wall and controllable inner structure for nerve tissue engineering.

In this study, a novel method was developed to create porous tubular scaffolds with desirable mechanical properties and controllable inner structure from chitosan, for nerve tissue engineering. Chitosan fiber-based yarns were first used to create porous hollow tubes, which served as the outer wall of the scaffolds, through an industrial knitting process. Then, an innovative molding technique was developed and used to produce inner matrices with multiple axially oriented macrochannels and radially interconnected micropores. Acupuncture needles were used as mandrels during molding to improve the safety and controllability of the process. In vitro characterization demonstrated that the scaffolds possessed suitable mechanical strength, porosity, swelling, and biodegradability for applications in nerve tissue engineering. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that differentiated Neuro-2a cells grew along the oriented macrochannels and the interconnected micropores were beneficial for nutrient diffusion and cell ingrowth to the scaffold's interior. Collectively, the well-defined architectural features in addition to the desirable mechanical and biological properties of the scaffolds make them promising for nerve tissue engineering.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The dynamic change of TGF-beta1 in the myocardial remodeling of rat after myocardial infarction.

To observe the dynamic changes of the TGF-beta1 expressed in the infarct and non-infarcted region of rat heart during the ventricular remodeling (day 3, 7, 28, 180), myocardial infarction rat model was made and relationship between the cytokine and indicator of myocardial remodeling was analyzed. After the detection of hemodynamic parameter was performed by the Powerlab devices, the size of myocardial infarction and the morphology change was detected by TTC and HE, respectively. The relative levels of mRNA of TGF- beta1, collagen type I, III, and fetal gene beta-MHC were detected by RT-PCR. The distribution of TGF- beta1 protein in the myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the size of infarction was higher than that of the sham operated groups in the infarcted group (44.5 +/- 0.5 vs 0). The difference in hemodynamic parameters between the infarcted group and sham operated group was significant (P < 0.01). HE staining showed that inflammatory cells were accumulated in the infarcted region at the beginning of the 3rd day, which lasted 4 weeks. Then, it decreased gradually. beta-MHC in the non-infarcted region rose from the 3rd day, reaching its peak at the 4th week, and it decreased gradually. The ratio of the collagen type I/III showed similar changes as compared with the sham operated groups (P < 0.01). And the relative mRNA levels in the non-infarcted group were significantly higher than that in the infarcted and sham operated group (P < 0.01) at day 180. Linear regression analysis indicated that the TGF-beta1 was positively correlated with the ventricular remodeling. It was concluded that the cytokine TGF-beta1 participates in the process of the myocardial remodeling, which could be a strategy in the interference of myocardial remodeling.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Quantal self-assembly of polymer layers in polypeptide multilayer nanofilms.

Simple molecular models predict key aspects of the "microscopic" assembly behavior of various peptide systems in the fabrication of multilayer films. Such films show substantial differences in density for different peptide systems. The data suggest that exponential film growth is possible in the absence of polymer diffusion and that "macroscopic" assembly behavior is more a function of peptide-peptide interactions than peptide sequence alone.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed2006

Aberrant expression of PTCH (patched gene) and Smo (smoothened gene) in human pancreatic cancerous tissues and its association with hyperglycemia.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of PTCH (patched gene) and Smo (smoothened gene) expression in human pancreatic cancerous tissues and its association with clinical characteristics. METHODS: A rabbit polyclonal antibody against PTCH was prepared through the immunization of prokaryotic recombinant PTCH1170-1433 protein. The PTCH and Smo expression in 39 resected pancreas specimens from 28 patients with pancreatic cancer, 6 with chronic pancreatitis (as control), and 5 with pancreatic pseudocyst (as control) were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between their expressions and pathological characteristics such as tumor sizes, degree of differentiation, nodal status, distant metastasis, and the blood sugar level were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of PTCH and Smo expressions in cancerous tissues were 71.4% (20/28) and 53.6% (15/28), respectively, whereas no expression in the nontumor pancreas tissues was found. Both PTCH and Smo expressions correlated with the low levels of tumor tissue differentiation (P < 0.05) and PTCH and Smo expressions in islet cells of cancerous tissues associated with hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Because aberrant expressions of PTCH and Smo were common in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues and were associated with the low-level differentiation of tumor tissue and hyperglycemia, this indicated that these molecules played a fundamental role in pancreas tumorigenesis and were regarded as new targets for diagnosis and treatment of human pancreatic cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Chromophore attachment in phycocyanin. Functional amino acids of phycocyanobilin--alpha-phycocyanin lyase and evidence for chromophore binding.

Covalent attachment of phycocyanobilin (PCB) to the alpha-subunit of C-phycocyanin, CpcA, is catalysed by the heterodimeric PCB : CpcA lyase, CpcE/F [Fairchild CD, Zhao J, Zhou J, Colson SE, Bryant DA & Glazer AN (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA89, 7017-7021]. CpcE and CpcF of the cyanobacterium, Mastigocladus laminosus PCC 7603, form a 1 : 1 complex. Lyase-mutants were constructed to probe functional domains. When in CpcE (276 residues) the N terminus was truncated beyond the R33YYAAWWL motif, or the C terminus beyond amino acid 237, the enzyme became inactive. Activity decreases to 20% when C-terminal truncations went beyond L275, which is a key residue: the K(m) of CpcE(L275D) and (L276D) increased by 61% and 700%, k(cat)/K(m) decreased 3- and 83-fold, respectively. The enzyme also lost activity when in CpcF (213 residues) the 20 N-terminal amino acids were truncated; truncation of 53 C-terminal amino acids inhibited complex formation with CpcE, possibly due to misfolding. According to chemical modifications, one accessible arginine and one accessible tryptophan are essential for CpcE activity, and one carboxylate for CpcF. Both subunits bind PCB, as assayed by Ni2+ affinity chromatography, SDS/PAGE and Zn2+-induced fluorescence. The bound PCB could be transferred to CpcA to yield alpha-CPC. The PCB transfer capacity correlates with the activity of the lyase, indicating that PCB bound to CpcE/F is an intermediate of the enzymatic reaction. A catalytic mechanism is proposed, in which a CpcE/F complex binds PCB and adjusts via a salt bridge the conformation of PCB, which is then transferred to CpcA.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2006

Knockdown of Stat3 expression using RNAi inhibits growth of laryngeal tumors in vivo.

AIM: To study the effect of pSilencer1.0-U6-siRNA-stat3 on the growth of human laryngeal tumors in nude mice. METHODS: Hep2 cells were transplanted into nude mice, then at the time of tumor formation, growth rates were observed. After the tumor formed, pSilencer1.0-U6-siRNA-stat3 was injected. Tumor volumes were calculated, and growth curves were plotted. Representative histological sections were taken from mice bearing transplantation tumors in both treated and control groups, and stat3, pTyr-stat3, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, and survivin expression were detected by Western blotting. survivin mRNA levels were detected by Northern blotting, hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay to confirm the apoptosis of tumors. RESULTS: In nude mice, pSilencer1.0-U6-siRNA-stat3 significantly suppressed the growth of tumors compared with controls (P<0.01). It suppressed stat3 expression, and downregulated BcL2, cyclin D1, and survivin expression within the tumor. This significantly induced apoptosis of the tumors. CONCLUSION: pSilencer1.0-U6-siRNA-stat3 was able to inhibit the growth of transplanted human laryngeal tumors in nude mice and induce apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Application of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-based serum proteomic array technique for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

AIM: To identify the serum biomarkers of prostate cancer (PCa) by protein chip and bioinformatics. METHODS: Serum samples from 83 PCa patients and 95 healthy men were taken from a mass screening in Changchun, China. Protein profiling was carried out using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS). The data of spectra were analyzed using two bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: Eighteen serum differential proteins were identified in the PCa group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). There were four proteins at the higher serum level and 14 proteins at the lower serum level in the PCa group. A decision tree classification algorithm that used an eight-protein mass pattern was developed to correctly classify the samples. A sensitivity of 92.0% and a specificity of 96.7% for the study group were obtained by comparing the PCa and control groups. CONCLUSION: We identified new serum biomarkers of PCa. SELDI-TOF MS coupled with a decision tree classification algorithm will provide a highly accurate and innovative approach for the early diagnosis of PCa.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Versatile reporter systems show that transactivation by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax occurs independently of chromatin remodeling factor BRG1.

Potent activation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) gene expression is mediated by the virus-encoded transactivator protein Tax and three imperfect 21-bp repeats in the viral long terminal repeats. Each 21-bp repeat contains a cAMP-responsive-element core flanked by 5' G-rich and 3' C-rich sequences. Tax alone does not bind DNA. Rather, it interacts with basic domain-leucine zipper transcription factors CREB and ATF-1 to form ternary complexes with the 21-bp repeats. In the context of the ternary complexes, Tax contacts the G/C-rich sequences and recruits transcriptional coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 to effect potent transcriptional activation. Using an easily transduced and chromosomally integrated reporter system derived from a self-inactivating lentivirus vector, we showed in a BRG1- and BRM1-deficient adrenal carcinoma cell line, SW-13, that Tax- and 21-bp repeat-mediated transactivation does not require BRG1 or BRM1 and is not enhanced by BRG1. With a similar reporter system, we further demonstrated that Tax- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation occurs readily in SW-13 cells in the absence of BRG1 and BRM1. These results suggest that the assembly of stable multiprotein complexes containing Tax, CREB/ATF-1, and CBP/p300 on the 21-bp repeats is the principal mechanism employed by Tax to preclude nucleosome formation at the HTLV-1 enhancer/promoter. This most likely bypasses the need for BRG1-containing chromatin-remodeling complexes. Likewise, recruitment of CBP/p300 by NF-kappaB may be sufficient to disrupt histone-DNA interaction for the initiation of transcription.

Activating Transcription Factors↗

PubMed2006

[Protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on bone marrow cells in rats from cytotoxicity induced by benzene in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on bone marrow cells in rats from cytotoxicity induced by benzene in vitro. METHODS: The bone marrow cells in rats were divided into two groups randomizedly. Cells of the control group were stimulated by 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 2, 4, 6 hours respectively. Cells of the tBHQ-pretreated group were treated by 100 micromol/L tBHQ for 12 hours followed by the same conditions as the control group. The DNA damage was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE) and cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. The activities of NAD (P) H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in bone marrow cells of rats were also measured before benzene treatment in two groups. RESULTS: In control group, the DNA damage and the apoptosis of bone marrow cells was increased with the growing concentration and time of benzene treatment. The DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of the bone marrow cells in the rats under 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene treatment in the tBHQ-pretreated group were significantly lower than those in control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). The apoptosis of the bone marrow cells in the rats stimulated by 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 2 hours and 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 4 hours as well as 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 6 hours were also significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The activities of NQO1 in the bone marrow cells in the rats were increased after tBHQ treatment (P < 0.01) (1.62 +/- 0.16 min(-1).mg(-1) vs. the control group: 0.95 +/- 0.08 min(-1).mg(-1)). CONCLUSION: The benzene can induce the DNA damage and the apoptosis of bone marrow cells in rats in a time dependent and dose dependent manner to some extent. The tBHQ can protect the bone marrow cells in rats from the cytotoxicity induced by benzene, which can be partly explained by the increase of the NQO1 activity induced by tBHQ.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Surgery of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the operations of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. METHOD: Twenty-two patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma operated by various operative approaches were studied in this research. All their clinic data were collected and analyzed. RESULT: In the operation, the brooding amount was from 400 ml to 1600 ml. One case was recurred in half a year after operation. The other 21 cases didn't recur after one to two years follow-up. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the treatment, reduce the recurrence of tumor and decrease brooding in operation, better preparation before surgery, reasonable surgical route,external carotid artery delegation, embolization under digital subtraction angiography(DSA) and resecting the all tumor as possible in the operation are very important

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Inhibitory effect of blocking expression of human augmenter of liver regeneration (hALR) on proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Human augmenter of liver regeneration (hALR) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but rarely expressed in normal liver cells. ALR could stimulate the proliferation of HCC cell line in vitro, but has no effect on normal hepatocytes. This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of blocking the expression of hALR on the proliferation of HCC cell line HepG2 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting ALR and anti-ALR monoclonal antibody (McAb). METHODS: RNA interference (RNAi) plasmid pSIALR-A targeting hALR cDNA and control plasmid pSIALR-B were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells, respectively. After transfection, the expression of green fluorescent protein was observed under a fluorescent microscope to calculate transfection efficiency, the protein level of hALR was measured by immunocytochemistry, meanwhile, the expression of hALR mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). (3)H-TdR incorporation approach was performed to detect the proliferation of HepG2 cells after transfection and after neutralization with anti-hALR McAb. RESULTS: hALR was expressed in HepG2 cells. Plasmids pSIALR-A and pSIALR-B were successfully constructed. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR showed that pSIALR-A inhibited the expression of hALR in HepG2 cells significantly by 83% as compared with pSIALR-B. pSIALR-A specifically inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells after transfection. (3)H-TdR incorporation of pSIALR-A/HepG2 cells was significantly lower than that of pSIALR-B/HepG2 cells (67 687+/-6 548 vs. 104 807+/-5 713, P<0.05). Anti-hALR McAb markedly inhibited the autonomous growth of HepG2 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: hALR is highly expressed in HepG2 cells. The short interfering RNA targeting hALR gene could specifically suppress the expression of hALR, and subsequently inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells. Anti-hALR McAb could partially inhibit the autonomous growth of HepG2 cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2006

[Diagnostic value of serum islet autoantibody in hepatogenic diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum islet autoantibody-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) and islet cell antibody (ICA) in patients with hepatogenic diabetes. METHODS: Serum GADA and ICA were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 217 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH) or liver cirrhosis (LC). The positivity rate of GADA and ICA in different phases of CH and LC and their relations with diabetes mellitus were analyzed. RESULTS: The positivity rate of the islet autoantibody in the circulation was 72% in CH and LC patients with diabetes mellitus and 30% in patients with normal glucose level, showing significant difference between the two patient groups (Chi2=36.620, P=0.000). CH patients with diabetes had much higher positivity rate for the antibody [52% than type 2 diabetic patients with liver dysfunction [8%, P<0.05]. The positivity rate was also much higher in CH and LC patients with lowered C peptide level [70%] than in those with normal C peptide level [40%, P<0.005]. CONCLUSION: Both GADA and ICA have important value in the diagnosis of hepatogenic diabetes and may serve as indexed in laboratory test for distinguishing hepatogenic diabetes from type 2 diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Construction of pORF-mIG and activity evaluation of MIG in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a transformant of monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG) with the eukaryotic expression vector for further investigating the efficacy of its use in antitumor gene therapy. METHODS: The MIG full-length cDNA was amplified from pBLAST-MIG and was cloned into the eukaryote expression vector pORF-mcs, and the resulted recombinant plasmid was named pORF-MIG. The recombinant pORF-MIG was determined with restriction enzyme and sequencing, and then it was transfected into COS-7 cells by Lipfectamin. Expression of the transformant was detected by immunoblot assay, and the bioactivity was assessed by chemotaxis assay. RESULTS: The restriction analysis and the sequence determination confirmed that the recombinant pORF-MIG contained the MIG full-length cDNA. And the transformants of pORF-MIG expressed the MIG protein which could apparently attract the activated lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: The recombinant pORF-MIG was constructed successfully, and this recombinant eukaryotic expression vector could be used in additional studies on the biological effect of MIG and its use in anti-tumor gene therapy.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2006

[Phase II trial of prolonged infusion of low-dose gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer treatment].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Gemcitabine combined with cisplatin has been taken as the front-line regimen for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The routine use of gemcitabine is intravenous injection of a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) within 30 minutes on days 1 and 8, and the treatment is repeated every 3 weeks. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 6-hour continuous infusion of low dose of gemcitabine plus cisplatin for patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with measurable stage III B/IV NSCLC and without chemotherapy were enrolled. All of them received 6-hour continuous infusion of gemcitabine 250 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 2-4 for more than 2 cycles. The cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: All 48 patients were evaluated for toxicity and 46 for response. The overall response rate was 32.5% (completed and partial response rates were 2.2% and 30.3%, respectively). The median time to progression was 5.1 months, median survival time was 10.2 months; and 1-year survival rate was 36.6%. The main hematologic toxicity consisted of 60.4% neutropenia, 39.5% thrombocytopenia. Grade III-IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were 20.8% and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Six-hour prolonged infusion of low dose gemcitabine combined with cisplatin is a relatively safe and effective regimen for patients with advanced NSCLC.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Determination of three chemical components in Fructus aurantii immaturus].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of 3 kinds of components in Fructus aurantii immaturus. METHOD: HPLC analysis was performed to detect the contents of hesperidin, naringin and synephrine. The content of volatile oil was detected determined following the method of Chinese pharmacopoeia. RESULT: The contents of hesperidin, naringin, synephrine and volatile oil in ten samples are from 1.25% to 16.6%, 0% to 13.9%, 0.058 5% to 0.676% and 0.1% to 2.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The contentre are significant differences of among chemical components in from different samples of Fructus aurantii immaturus are greats.

China↗

PubMed2006

[Killing effect of PNP/MeP-dR suicide gene system driven by an AFP promoter AF0.3 on AFP-positive hepatoma cells].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter-driven target gene could be specifically expressed in AFP-positive hepatoma. Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase/6-methylpurine-2-deoxyriboside (PNP/MeP-dR) suicide gene system has powerful killing effects on tumor cells. This study was to investigate the specific killing effect of PNP/MeP-dR suicide gene system driven by an AFP promoter, AF0.3, on AFP-positive hepatoma cells. METHODS: Inserting PNP gene into pAF0.3, a eukaryotic expression vector containing PNP gene, pAF0.3/PNP, was constructed. Then it was transfected into AFP-positive HepG2 and AFP-negative SMMC7721 hepatoma cell lines, respectively. Two cell lines HepG2/AF0.3-PNP and SMMC7721/AF0.3-PNP, stably transfected with PNP gene, were obtained with G418 selection. The expression of PNP gene was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The proliferation of HepG2/AF0.3-PNP and SMMC7721/AF0.3-PNP cells was determined with trypan blue exclusion. The sensitivity of the cells to MeP-dR and the bystander effects were assessed with MTT assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The enzymatic activities of PNP gene products were determined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Whether hypoxia or normoxia, HepG2/AF0.3-PNP cells were sensitive to MeP-dR, whereas SMMC7721/AF0.3-PNP cells were not. Under both conditions, obvious cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells were observed when the proportion of HepG2/AF0.3-PNP cells in the mixture reached 25%. But there were no similar effects on SMMC7721 cells under the same conditions. HPLC assay showed that the product of PNP gene driven by AF0.3 promoter could convert a spot of MeP-dR into 6-MP in HepG2 cells, but not in SMMC7721 cells. CONCLUSION: PNP/MeP-dR system, driven by AF0.3 promoter, has powerful killing effect on AFP-positive hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2006

[Role of Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents and their gene expression in Al-induced neurons apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents and their gene expression in Al-induced neurons apoptosis. METHODS: Neurons from 0 - 3 day rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations of AlCl(3 x 6) H2O. The cell apoptosis was observed by the TUNEL method and under the scan electron microscope. Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents were detected by the immunochemistry method while their gene expressions were measured by the RT-PCR method. RESULTS: (1) DNA fractions in the TUNEL method increased with the rising aluminum concentration. Blebbings and apoptosis bodies on the surface of the neurons were clearly observed under the scan electron microscope. (2) Bcl-2 protein contents and their gene expression decreased with the rising aluminum concentration (P < 0.01, r = -0.695; P < 0.05, r = -0.647), while Bax increased at the same time (P < 0.01, r = 0.676; P < 0.01, r = 0.794), the value of Bcl-2/Bax was related with the aluminum concentration (P < 0.01, r = -0.655; P < 0.01, r = -0.777). CONCLUSION: The aluminum may induce neurons apoptosis. Bcl-2 and Bax protein contents and their gene expression may play an important role in Al-induced apoptosis.

Aluminum↗