Immunohistochemical evaluation of bcl-2 protein expression in normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrium

Abstract

B 1-2 is the prototype of a class of oncogenes which regulate apoptosis. Bcl-2 ge was identified at the chromosomal breakpoint of t(14;18) cl:Ion·)somal translocation bearing B cell lymphomas. It is known to l*long to a growing family of apoptosis-regulatory gene products "t.Vlch may either promote cell survival (e.g. bcl-2) or encourage ::;el death (e.g. bax). The death antagonisti.:; or death promoting m Jm >rs of bcl-2 family functions as potential oncogenes and tupor suppressor genes re3pectively. Bc-2 and its homologues rna., intervene in oncoger_esis by favoring the persistence of o1 :1ted cells that in normal :::ircumstances would be eliminated by apof tosis.

It was init cJly believed that bcl-2 was not detectable in non neoplastic tissue. veral studies, however, have demonst:'ated bcl- 2 expression in a variety of fetal and adull tissues. In fetal tissues bcl-2 is invohed f morphogenesis by modulating the incuction of cell death neceEs9JY for tissue differentiatic:n. In adult tissues bcl-2 has been obsen.·ec.f in hematopoietic tissue, epidermis, ·Jronchial epithelium, intestnal epithelium, breast e?ithelium, th:yroid and neurons.

Bcl-2 is no mally expressed by cyclic endometrial pithelial cells. It has been \reported that bcl-2 expression is ina·eased in endometrial hyr e1lasia leading to specdation that bcl-2 over expressiOn coulrl contribute to the develcpment of endometrial carcmoma.

This work a ms at studying the expression ofbcl-2 Li nmmal cyclic endometri l£11. various types of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial mali nhncy.