CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BCL–2 GENE EXPRESSION FOR THE PROGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF ACUTE GRAFT–VERSUS–HOST–DISEASE (AGVHD) IN ALLO–HSCT

Abstract

Abstract. Our general purpose was to investigate bcl–2 gene expression in patients treated by allogeneic unrelated haematopoietic stem cells transplantation (aUHSCT) for the evaluation of aGvHD. Total RNA from the leukocytes of 19 oncohaematological patients was collected before starting the conditioning regimen (D–T), at the day of hematological recovery (D–R) and at the D+30. An original RT–PCR protocol was developed, by quantifying the signals from the target genes, as compared to beta–actin as a reference gene. We have shown that the levels of bcl–2 expression in aGVHD patients were higher, as compared to aGVHD–free patients at D–T (Р=0,011), like as D–R (Р=0,012) time–points. The patients at the D–R and D+30 were divided into two groups, either with or without clinical signs of aGvHD at these observation terms (resp., groups I and II). At D–R point, bcl–2 expression in the 1st group was two–fold higher, than in the patients of second group (P=0,05). By the contrary, bcl–2 expression by the D+30 in group I was two–fold lower, as compared to the patients of second group (Р=0,016). Thus, we suggest the monitoring of bcl–2 expression to be of certain clinical significance. This criterion could be used as additional approach to prediction of aGVHD development and adjustment of immunosuppressive therapy. We also suppose that the role of the bcl–2 in the pathogenesis of aGvHD should be analyzed in more details. (Med. Immunol., 2005, vol.7, № 4, pp. 381–384)

Keywords

• transplantation
• bcl–2 gene
• acute graft-versus-host-disease