Apoptosis suppressing protein Bcl-2 expression in rheumatoid synovium

ABSTRACT

It has been suggested that defective apoptosis plays a role in the development of autoimmune. The aim of this study is to investigate the apoptosis suppressing protein Bcl-2 in the rheumatoid synovum. Twenty synovium biopsy specimens were studied histopathologically and immuno-histochemically. Positive immunoreactivity was observed in 16 cases [80%] the infiltrated lymphocytes and in 11 cases [55%] in the lymphoid follicles, while, in 8 cases [40%] deep synovial fibroblasts showed marked Bcl-2 positively. The superficial synovial cell lining was only positive in 5 cases [25%].The apoptotic process is suppressed in rheumatoid arthritis as triggered by Bcl-2 oncoprotein. The defective control of apoptosis. [programmed cell death] as well excessive proliferation may he of central importance in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis