title: Transcriptional overexpression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 in patients with systemic Lupus erythematosus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Graninger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D050721:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050721:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C067419:CBL protein, human