BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) ELISA

Bcl-2 initiates a new gene family involved in the regulation of cell death and survival without affecting cell proliferation. This precise regulation and maintenance of balance between cell proliferation and cell death in multicellular organisms is critical for tissue homeostasis. Bcl-2, encoded by a proto-oncogene, is an intracellular membrane-associated protein that functions to block programmed cell death. Expression of Bcl-2 has been reported in a wide range of hematopoietic cells, nonneoplastic epithelia and epithelial malignancies. Bcl-2 levels are low or undetectable in endothelial cells. A decrease in Bcl-2 levels leads to cell death by apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 on the other hand protects cells from death, but it is neither able to immortalize normal cells, nor to cause tumorgenic transformation of immortalized cells. Heterogeneous expression of Bcl-2 in malignancies suggests that the gene is differentially regulated. Furthermore, its expression in association with precancerous lesions suggests a role in the early stage of tumorigenesis. Several homologs of Bcl-2 have recently been discovered, some of which function as inhibitors of cell death and others as promoters of apoptosis that oppose the function of the Bcl-2 protein. Bcl-2 protein plays a critical role in oncogenesis as well as resistance to therapy of cancer. Furthermore prognostic significance of Bcl-2 expression has been shown for several malignancies such as Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, squamous cell carcinomas, breast carcinoma, carcinoma of the gallbladder, and thymoma. Dysregulated Bcl-2 expression has been shown in Multiple Myeloma patients and in acute Myeloid leukemia. Bcl-2 has been suggested as a useful marker for adequate IL-2 therapy e.g. in AIDS patients. Synonyms: Apoptosis regulator Bcl-2