BCL-2 PROTEIN IS INCREASED IN THE BRAIN FROM PARKINSONIAN-PATIENTS

The proto-oncogene bcl-2 is involved in the regulation of cell death a nd may be able to block apoptosis in neurons through reduced generatio n of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The bcl-2 product was measured for the first time in brain (caudate nucleus, putamen and cerebral cortex ), ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (VCSF), and lumber CSF (LCSF) from control and parkinsonian patients by highly sensitive two-site sandwic h enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentrations of bcl -2 in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic regions were significantly higher in parkinsonian patients than those in controls, whereas this product in cerebral cortex showed no significant difference between parkinson ian and control subjects. Neither VCSF nor LCSF from control and parki nsonian subjects contained the bcl-2 product in the detectable amount (<5 U/ml). Since oxidative stress may be involved in neurogenerative d isorders, accumulation of bcl-2 may reflect a mechanism for counterbal ancing ROS-mediated damage, or it might represent the impairment of bc l-2-dependent protection from ROS in parkinsonian brain.