title: Transplanted heart cardiomyocytes reveal continuous expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptotic mechanisms take place in cardiocyte death during acute heart graft rejection and remodeling by the mitochondrial pathway. This process is suppressed by Bcl-2 protein. Besides that, knowledge about cardiocyte antiapoptotic responses after heart transplantation is scanty. We sought to estimate Bcl-2 expression in the absence of rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included endomyocardial biopsies taken at 1 week, 1 month, 1 through to 10 years after heart transplant, which showed rejection grade "0"; the control group were donor heart fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bcl-2 expression was determined immunohistochemically by NP030 antibody (DAKO) and Envision-DAB. The intensity of staining was assessed semiquantitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No Bcl-2 expression was seen in the controls; in the posttransplant groups, the significantly strongest sarcoplasmic reaction was observed at 1 week after heart transplant. Thereafter, the reaction decreased, and was weakest in the 3- and 5-year groups. From this time, Bcl-2 expression increased albeit without statistical significance. The intensity of the reaction showed no correlation with the time elapsed from heart transplant (Spearman r = 0.05; P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein occurs during the entire posttransplant period, being probably a preservative and adaptative response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery & Transplantation, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nozynski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zakliczynski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zembala-Nozynska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konecka-Mrowka
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nikiel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Przybylski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruszewski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zembala
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2