title: An investigation into the role of Bcl-2 in neuroendocrine differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to its role in apoptosis suppression, Bcl-2 has been reported to be co-expressed with neuroendocrine markers in several tissues, leading to speculation that this oncoprotein may promote neuroendocrine differentiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether Bcl-2 modulated neuroendocrine biopeptide expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of chromogranin A, neurone specific enolase, protein gene peptide 9.5, pancreatic polypeptide, and the chromogranin-derived peptides, intervening peptide and vasostatin-1 were examined by immunocytochemistry in rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cell lines genetically engineered to over-express Bcl-2 and their mock-transfected controls. Intensity of fluorescence was graded using a semi-quantitative scale from (-) indicating negative expression to (+++) indicating intense positivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mann-Whitney U analysis indicated that no significant differences in expression existed between control and Bcl2 over-expressing cell lines for any of the six peptides examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that Bcl-2 promotes the acquisition of a neuroendocrine phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Building, RGH, Belfast BT12 6BJ, N. Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Cadden
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGinty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases