Graninger, WB.
Transcriptional overexpression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 in patients with systemic Lupus erythematosus.
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1992; 104(7):205-207
Web of SciencePubMedGoogle Scholar
In systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) spontaneous hyperreactivity of the cells of the immune system leads to the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. A hyperproliferative state of lymphocytes is indicated by the increased expression of nuclear oncogenes. We investigated the expression of a putative proto-oncogene, bcl-2, which is responsible for prolonged survival of lymphocytes and protection from programmed cell death. In 19 of 24 patients with SLE an increased concentration of bcl-2 mRNA was found in unstimulated circulating blood lymphocytes. The overexpression of the bcl-2 gene was more pronounced in patients with active SLE. A pathogenic role of increased bcl-2 expression and prolonged survival of autoimmune memory cells in SLE can be hypothesized.
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