title: Bcl-2 oncogene (B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2) levels correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bcl-2 translocation or overexpression is found in many types of malignancy, possibly through alteration of the apoptosis mechanism. It has also been suggested that similar apoptotic alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is believed that a process of apoptosis at the stage of maturation or differentiation of lymphocytes may be related to the beginning of an autoimmune event, due to the non-elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes. The aim of this study is to test bcl-2 antigen expression in human SLE peripheral blood and to analyze its relationship with disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of bcl-2 were studied by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in whole blood samples in 68 patients with SLE and its correlation with disease activity according to SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in bcl-2 levels between all SLE patients and controls. We observed increased levels of bcl-2 in active SLE patients in relation to inactive (p = 0.0003) and controls (p = 0.02). Our results show a significant correlation between bcl-2 levels and SLEDAI values (R = 0.46, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that bcl-2 levels are related to disease activity and that this protein may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miret
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Carrasco
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Filella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballesta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ingelmo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged