bcl-2 is expressed in neurons that survive focal ischemia in the rat.
Expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 prevents programmed cell death in vitro, but it is not known whether bcl-2 plays a role in determining cell survival after cerebral ischemia. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, bcl-2 protein expression was studied in the rat brain 24 h following 60 or 120 min of temporary focal ischemia. Sixty minutes of ischemia induced bcl-2 protein in neurons throughout the frontoparietal cortex in non-infarcted regions, whereas 120 min of ischemia induced bcl-2 in neurons only just outside the margin of the infarction. bcl-2 protein was also induced in glial cells, mainly microglia, border zone of the infarction. In the infarcted regions of caudate and cortex, bcl-2 protein was exclusively induced in endothelial cells and the vessel walls. Western blot revealed a characteristic single band at 26 kDa only in ischemic samples. These data show that bcl-2 is induced in sublethally injured cells and suggest that bcl-2 could play a role in determining cell survival in cerebral ischemia.
Chen
J
J
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Graham
S H
SH
Chan
P H
PH
Lan
J
J
Zhou
R L
RL
Simon
R P
RP
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2