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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The development of a cell culture system efficient in the establishment of lymphoma cell lines has made it possible to dissect basic biological and molecular aspects of lymphoma cells. We have established a lymphoma cell line from a patient with B cell lymphoma. The cell line has a complex karyotype with translocations involving bands 8q24, 14q32, and 18q21. Molecular analysis revealed that the Myc gene was rearranged; we were unable to demonstrate rearrangement of the Bcl-2 gene. Evaluation of the structure of the heavy chain Ig genes revealed that the cell line carried the same rearrangements as the cells from which the cell line was derived. The pattern of rearrangement, however, was unusual in that there were at least four rearranged bands when DNA cut with HindIII was probed with a fragment of the heavy chain joining region. To further characterize the cell line, subclones were derived. Individual subclones had the same pattern of rearrangement as the parent cell line. The results of these studies provide evidence that multiple rearranged Ig genes may be present in a single clone of cells.
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PMID:A human lymphoma cell line with multiple immunoglobulin rearrangements. 131 15

The majority of non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas contain a t(14;18) translocation that places the bc12 gene into juxtaposition with the transcriptically active Ig heavy-chain locus, thus deregulating the expression of this proto-oncogene. The bc12 gene product is a membrane-associated mitochondrial protein that regulates cell survival through unknown mechanisms. Although overproduction of the normal protein appears sufficient for conferring a selective growth or survival advantage to B cells, point mutations that alter the coding region of translocated bc12 genes have been described previously by others in a lymphoma cell line. However, it is not known whether somatic mutations that alter BCL2 proteins occur in vivo or whether they result from chemotherapy or arise through other mechanisms. For these reasons, we obtained DNA from the t(14;18)-containing tumors of five patients who had not undergone treatment for their disease, and used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mismatch technique for rapid identification of point mutations in a portion of the bc12 open reading frame (ORF) corresponding to the first 131 aminoacids (aa) of the 239 aa p26 BCL2 protein. DNAs from two t(14;18)-containing cell lines were also analyzed. Point mutations in this region of the bc12 gene ORF were detected in three of five patients' tumors and in both cell lines. PCR-mismatch analysis of bc12 in cell lines and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases that lacked the t(14;18) translocation was negative, thus establishing the specificity of these results. DNA sequencing determined that these mutations are predicted to produce aa substitutions in the BCL2 proteins of two of the primary tumors and one of the cell lines. Interestingly, two of the patients contained an identical C----T transition that resulted in a nonconservative aa substitution (proline----serine) at position 59 of the BCL2 protein. Further analysis excluded the possibility that these mutations represented hereditary polymorphisms or PCR artifacts. A cluster of four point mutations within the translocation + bc12 allele of one patient had hallmarks of the somatic hypermutation mechanism that is associated with Ig genes and that contributes to antibody diversity. Because of the region of the bcl2 gene analyzed in these t(14;18) translocations is located nearly 300 kbp from the Ig heavy-chain locus, our data suggest that the Ig gene somatic hypermutation mechanism can act over extreme distances of DNA. It remains to be established whether these somatic mutations that alter BCL2 proteins influence the pathobiology of nonHodgkin's lymphomas.
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PMID:Frequent incidence of somatic mutations in translocated BCL2 oncogenes of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. 133 99

The germinal center forms a specialized microenvironment that is thought to play a key role in the induction of antibody synthesis, affinity maturation of B cells, isotype switching, and memory B-cell formation. Moreover, the germinal center may also be involved in the maintenance of T-cell memory. In this paper we focus on the role of adhesion receptors in cellular interactions in the germinal center, and discuss evidence indicating that these molecules play an important role in regulating B-cell activation and differentiation. Furthermore, we discuss two important diseases involving the germinal center, i.e., HIV infection and malignant lymphoma. In HIV infection, destruction of the FDC network may explain the selective loss of memory cells observed in otherwise asymptomatic patients and is likely to represent a major pathway leading to AIDS. In follicular lymphoma, escape from physiological apoptosis in the germinal center by overexpression of Bcl-2 appears be a major pathogenetic pathway.
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PMID:Cellular interactions in the germinal center: role of adhesion receptors and significance for the pathogenesis of AIDS and malignant lymphoma. 159 19

Correlations between cytogenetics, histology, and clinical course continue to emerge in studies of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The previously recognized association between the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation and follicular lymphoma has been confirmed; abnormalities of chromosome 3 have correlated specifically with diffuse large cell lymphoma and abnormalities of chromosome 1 have been frequently present in T-cell lymphomas. Rearrangements involving 11q13 (bcl-1) occur most commonly in diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma of intermediate differentiation. Several new recurrent chromosomal abnormalities have also been described. The molecular fine structure of the t(8-14) chromosomal translocation in Burkitt's lymphoma appears to differ between endemic (Epstein-Barr virus-associated) and sporadic cases. In endemic Burkitt's lymphomas, the chromosomal breakpoint is usually far upstream of c-myc oncogene, leaving the regulatory region of the gene intact. In sporadic tumors, a large part of the regulatory region is separated from the gene and transcription is initiated at sites within the first intron. These data raise the possibility that Epstein-Barr virus may contribute to the deregulation of the c-myc gene and that this interaction may be required for tumorigenesis in the presence of some, but not all, types of c-myc damage arising from chromosomal translocations. Partner proteins that oligomerize with c-Myc have been identified in humans and mice (Max and Myn). The partners share with c-Myc the DNA-binding and coiled-coil motifs that are recognized in many other proteins and that function as transcriptional regulators. The Bcl-2 protein has been shown to be a mitochondrial inner membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death (apoptosis). Viral expression has been demonstrated in Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin's disease, and the spectrum of Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease has been expanded to include some T-cell malignancies. A new human herpesvirus has been associated with some cases of Hodgkin's disease.
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PMID:Biology of the lymphomas: cytogenetics, molecular biology, and virology. 166 Nov 67

The bcl2 protooncogene was originally discovered because of its involvement in t(14;18) chromosomal translocations frequently found in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The expression of this gene is reported to be highly tissue specific, with bcl2 mRNAs being readily detectable only in hematolymphoid tissues and brain. To explore the possible involvement of bcl2 in neural tumors, we surveyed a variety of tumor cell lines for the presence of the p26-BCL2 protein by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting methods. Very high levels of BCL2 protein were found in three of nine neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines examined; these levels of p26-BCL2 were comparable to lymphoma cell lines that contain a t(14;18). Despite the impressive relative amounts of BCL2 protein, however, no structural alterations or changes in the methylation status of bcl2 genes were detected in these NB cell lines by conventional Southern blotting. Of the other NB cell lines surveyed, three contained intermediate levels of BCL2 and another three cell lines had little or no detectable BCL2 protein, raising the possibility that determination of relative levels of BCL2 protein may help to segregate neuroblastomas into groups with different biological and clinical characteristics. BCL2 protein levels were not influenced by induction of neuronal differentiation with nerve growth factor in two of the two cell lines examined [SH-SY5Y (high BCL2); GICAN (low BCL2)] and did not correlate with N-MYC gene amplification or expression of nerve growth factor receptors. NB cell lines that contained little or no detectable BCL2 protein, however, tended to contain significant proportions of flat epithelioid cells, whereas bcl2-expressing cell lines were composed primarily of neuronal-like cells, suggesting that expression of this protooncogene correlates with the differentiation characteristics of these tumor cell lines. In addition to NBs, lower levels of BCL2 protein were also found in a variety of other neural crest-derived tumors and tumor cell lines, including some neuroepitheliomas, Ewing's sarcomas, neurofibromas, and melanomas. With regard to tumors of central nervous system origin, bcl2 expression was absent from most medulloblastomas but was detected at moderate to low levels in a retinoblastoma and some glioblastoma multiforme cell lines. Taken together, these findings imply that bcl2 protooncogene expression is differentially regulated within the various lineages of cells that give rise to the nervous system.
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PMID:Differential expression of bcl2 protooncogene in neuroblastoma and other human tumor cell lines of neural origin. 174 26

The Bcl-2 proto-oncogene was discovered at the t(14;18) breakpoint found in most follicular B-cell lymphomas and some diffuse large-cell lymphomas. Bcl-2 is unique among proto-oncogenes, being localized to mitochondria and extending cell survival by blocking programmed cell death. We examined Bcl-2 protein expression in 82 hematologic malignancies and reactive lymphoid processes. All lymphomas with Bcl-2 rearrangement demonstrated high levels of Bcl-2 protein. However, most follicular and diffuse lymphomas without Bcl-2 rearrangement also displayed intense Bcl-2 staining. In these cases, mechanisms other than classic translocation may be deregulation Bcl-2. The pattern of Bcl-2 staining in follicular lymphoma is the inverse of the pattern in reactive hyperplasia, confirming a role for Bcl-2 immunolocalization in routine diagnosis. Small lymphocytic malignancies, including small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle zone lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, expressed intermediate levels of Bcl-2. Bcl-2 protein varied in plasma cell dyscrasias. Bcl-2 protein levels in T-cell lymphomas reflected their corresponding stage of development. No substantial Bcl-2 was present in the Reed-Sternberg cells of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. Chronic myelogenous leukemia was strongly positive for Bcl-2, consistent with the presence of Bcl-2 in normal myeloid progenitors. Immunohistochemistry identified an expanded spectrum of hematopoietic neoplasms in which Bcl-2 may provide a cell survival advantage.
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PMID:Immunolocalization of the Bcl-2 protein within hematopoietic neoplasms. 186 40

Follicular lymphoma, the most common human lymphoma, characteristically has a t(14; 18) interchromosomal translocation. It is typically an indolent disease comprised of small resting B cells, but frequently develops into a high-grade lymphoma. The t(14; 18) translocates the Bcl-2 gene, generating a deregulated Bcl-2-immunoglobulin fusion gene. Bcl-2 is a novel inner mitochondrial membrane protein that extends the survival of certain cells by blocking programmed cell death. To determine the oncogenic potential of the t(14; 18) translocation, we produced transgenic mice bearing a Bcl-2-immunoglobulin minigene that structurally mimicked the t(14; 18). An indolent follicular hyperplasia in these transgenic mice progressed to a malignant diffuse large-cell lymphoma. The long latency, progression from polyclonal to monoclonal disease, and histological conversion, are all suggestive of secondary changes. Half of the immunoblastic high-grade lymphomas had a rearranged c-myc gene. Our transgenic mice provide an animal model for tumour progression in t(14; 18) lymphoma and show that prolonged B-cell life increases tumour incidence.
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PMID:Progression from lymphoid hyperplasia to high-grade malignant lymphoma in mice transgenic for the t(14; 18). 198 77

In t(14;18) (q32;q21) lymphomas, bcl-2 gene is activated by the juxtaposition of immunoglobulin (Ig) gene. The fused bcl-2-Ig gene generates chimeric mRNAs which consist of bcl-2 at 5' portion and Ig at 3' portion. Chimeric mRNA does not disrupt the bcl-2 coding frame of 239 amino acid polypeptide. Bcl-2-Ig transgenic mice demonstrated the extended B cell survival and the follicular lymphoproliferation, but they did not develop a malignancy until 25 weeks. Ten percent of them, however, developed malignant diffuse large-cell lymphomas after a long latency. Forty percent of these malignancies demonstrated the c-myc rearrangement, indicating that multiple step changes are required for malignant transformation in bcl-2 activated cells. Study on the bcl-2 gene rearrangement in Japanese B cell lymphoma and B-CLL revealed that 10 out of 32 cases of follicular lymphoma (31%), 5 out of 56 cases of diffuse lymphoma (9%) and 2 out of 30 cases of B-CLL (7%) were rearranged. Less frequency of B cell lymphoma, particularly follicular lymphoma in Japan might be partly due to the less bcl-2 involvement than in American cases. The ratio of bcl-2 involvement in B-CLL is not significantly different between Japan and U.S.A.. bcl-2 rearrangement at 5' promoter region is noted for Japanese B-CLL which was demonstrated for American cases. The clinical application of polymerase chain reaction for bcl-2 translocation was also discussed.
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PMID:[BCL-2 gene in lymphocytic malignancy]. 205 69

Little is known about the biochemical or functional nature of the proteins encoded by the bcl-2 gene, which undergoes chromosomal translocation in approximately 85% of follicular lymphoma, 20% of diffuse large cell lymphoma and 10% of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of B cells. Translocation of bcl-2 sequences from chromosome 18 to the JH segment of the immunoglobulin gene at chromosome band 14q32 in B cells results in deregulated expression of this gene, causing high steady state levels of bcl-2 messenger RNA2. DNA sequence data indicate that bcl-2 encodes two proteins by virtue of alternative splicing, designated as Bcl-2 alpha and Bcl-2 beta, with relative molecular masses of 26,000 and 22,000 respectively. Cell fractionation experiments indicate that the bcl-2 alpha gene product is located at the inner surface of the cell membrane, suggesting a possible role in mitogenic signal transduction. We report here that Bcl-2 alpha has GTP-binding activity and a protein sequence that suggests it belongs to the small molecular weight GTP-binding protein (G protein) family.
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PMID:The bcl-2 gene encodes a novel G protein. 247 90

The most common translocation in human lymphoma, the t(14;18)(q32;q21), generates heterogeneous 4.2-7.2 kb Bcl-2-immunoglobulin (Ig) chimeric mRNAs resulting from alternative Bcl-2 5' exons and varied Ig 3' untranslated regions (UT). The normal human Bcl-2 gene has a three exon structure with an untranslated first exon, a facultative 220 bp intron I, but an enormous 370 kb intron II. S1 protection and primer extension analysis defined initiation sites in exon II associated with classic promoter elements and a decanucleotide (ATG-CAAAGCA) homologous with Ig variable region enhancers. Multiple initiation sites were also found in a GC-rich region with Sp1 binding motifs in exon I. Most t(14;18) breakpoints cluster within the 3' UT of Bcl-2 implicating that event in gene deregulation. The Bcl-2 gene introduced into the Ig constant (C gamma) locus of SU-DHL-6 displayed somatic mutation. While Bcl-2--Ig mRNAs demonstrated an unaltered 2.5 h half-life, the Bcl-2--Ig gene revealed an inappropriately high rate of transcription for a mature B-cell. This indicates the translocated Bcl-2 allele has escaped normal control mechanisms.
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PMID:Alternative promoters and exons, somatic mutation and deregulation of the Bcl-2-Ig fusion gene in lymphoma. 283 97


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