Bcl-2 gene and its family genes Bax, Bcl-XI as well as Fas/Apo-1 and their clinical significance in acute leukemia

Objective To study the suppressing genes of apoptosis, namely Bcl-2, its family genes Bax, Bcl-XI, and the inducing gene of apoptosis Fas/Apo-1. Methods The techniques of cytoimmuno-histiochemical stains, Western blotting and Northern blotting were used. Results It was found that the antigens of Bcl-2 in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic (ALL) was higher than that in the normal (P < 0.01). At same time, Bcl-2 was obviously lower expression in complete remission (CR) group than that in non-remission (NR) one by retrospective analysis (P < 0.01). Though Bcl-2 was low expression in CR with Western blotting, there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05) . In CR group the expression of Bcl-2 mR- NA was obviously lower than that of NR one (P < 0.01). Even though leukemia expression of Bax with cytoimmuno-histiochemical stain was also lower than that in the normal people, there was no difference between CR and NR with cytoimmuno-histiochemical, Western blotting and Northern blotting (P > 0.05). There was difference of Bcl-XI mRNA in two groups (P < 0.01) . The expression Fas/Apo-1 in leukemia was lower than that in normal people (P < 0. 01). But in CR and NR, there was no difference with cytoimmuno- histiochemical stain and Western blotting. Conclusions The Changes of genes and their proteins are significant theoretically and clinically. The antigen expression of Bcl-2 and the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA may be considered as a prognostic index for AML.