Bim and Bcl-2 mutually affect the expression of the other in T cells.
The life and death of T cells is controlled to a large extent by the relative amounts of Bcl-2-related proteins they contain. The antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the proapoptotic protein Bim are particularly important in this process with the amount of Bcl-2 per cell dropping by about one-half when T cells prepare to die. In this study we show that Bcl-2 and Bim each control the expression of the other. Absence of Bim leads to a drop in the amount of intracellular Bcl-2 protein, while having no effect on the amounts of mRNA for Bcl-2. Conversely, high amounts of Bcl-2 per cell allow high amounts of Bim, although in this case the effect involves increases in Bim mRNA. These mutual effects occur even if Bcl-2 is induced acutely. Thus these two proteins control the expression of the other, at either the protein or mRNA level.
Jorgensen
Trine N
TN
Integrated Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
McKee
Amy
A
Wang
Michael
M
Kushnir
Ella
E
White
Janice
J
Refaeli
Yosef
Y
Kappler
John W
JW
Marrack
Philippa
P
D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism