Expression And Clinical Significance Of Bcl-xl In Human Astrocytoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein Bcl-xl in human astrocytoma and whether there is a correlation between Bcl-xl and clinicopathological features of astrocytomas.MethodsThirty specimens of human astrocytomas,8 cases of normal brain tissues were examined. Polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis was used to detect mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-xl, respectively.ResultsThe protein and mRNA expression of Bcl-xl were detected in 29 cases of astrocytomasand 6 cases of normal brain tissues. The expression ratio was not significantly different between the two groups. But the gene and protein expression values of Bcl-xl were considerably higher in gliomas than those in normal brain tissues (P<0.01).There is statistical difference in Bcl-xl expression between different grades of astrocytomas.ConclusionBcl-xl had an obviously higher expression at both mRNA and protein levels in human astrocytomas, which may be related to tumorigenesis and active cell proliferation of astrocytomas.