Objective: To investigate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on neutrophils apoptosis and the expression of survivin.
Methods: Ten patients who scheduled for cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were recruited as study group and 10 healthy volunteers as control. Blood samples were obtained before operation, at the end of surgery, and at 24 hours postoperatively. Neutrophils were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and its apoptosis were evaluated by fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry. The expression of survivin protein was examined by Western blotting analysis. Expression level of survivin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.
Results: The apoptotic rate of neutrophils decreased significantly at the end of surgery (P < 0.01), and was still lower at 24 hours postoperatively than before operation (P < 0.05). The expression ratios of survivin protein and mRNA were increased at the end of surgery (P < 0.01), and decreased gently at 24 hours postoperatively but was still higher than before operation (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary bypass could inhibit neutrophils apoptosis and increase the expression of survivin. The decrease of neutrophils apoptosis was correlated with high expression of survivin.