ISSN:
1573-675X
Keywords:
bcl-2
;
lpr
;
T cell receptor (TCR)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Autoimmune-prone lpr mice develop lymphoproliferative disorders, whereas their lymphocytes show accelerated apoptosis in culture. To elucidate whether the bcl-2 protein, a repressor of apoptosis, is critical to the discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro survival, we examined bcl-2 expression in T cells from +/+ and lpr mice during culture. The expression levels of bcl-2 in cultured T cells from lpr mice were significantly down-modulated compared to those from +/+ mice and freshly obtained T cells. Besides, the reduction of bcl-2 protein levels was inhibited in T cells cultured in the presence of T cell receptor (TCR) signalling. These results suggest that lpr T cells might be susceptible to apoptosis in vitro due to down-modulation of bcl-2 by withdrawal of TCR signalling.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026437120118
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