Objective        To investigate whether enterovirus 71 (EV71) induces the apoptosis in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and the possible underlying mechanism.       Methods       The apoptosis of HBMECs was detected by flow cytometry after EV71 infection. The mitochondrial membrane potential of the infected HBMECs was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of DJ-1 in the infected HBMECs was observed by Western blot analysis. Concentrat

ion of TNF-α

IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant of HBMECs was detected by ELISA.       Results       EV71 induced apoptosis in HBMECs in a time-dependent fashion (

P

0.01). With the elapse of infection time

the numbers of terminal apoptosis cells and necrotic cells were increased significantly

compared with the cells at the early apoptosis (

P

0.01). EV71 infected HBMECs resulted in significant decreased in the mitochondrial membrane potential in 8 h after infection than the control (

P

0.01). Higher expression of DJ-1 protein was observed in 16 and 24 h after EV71 infection when compared with the control (

P

0.05). Significant differences were found in the supernatant concentrations of TNF-α

IL-4

and IL-10 in EV71 infected HBMECs for different time periods (

P

0.01).       Conclusion       EV71 induces the apoptosis and loss of Δψm of HBMECs

and the expression of DJ-1 and the releases of TNF-α

IL-4

and IL-10 in HBMECs.