Reduced blood bcl-2 protein concentration in patients on hemodialysis

The concentrations of bcl-2 protein that can block programmed cellular deat h in various cell lines were evaluated in blood samples from 10 uremic pati ents on hemodialysis, 10 uremics not yet on hemodialysis, and in 10 healthy controls. The bcl-2 protein variations tin uremics on dialysis) were ascer tained in patients during the dialysis session. Oxidative stress was evalua ted in all groups by assaying the products of intraerythrocytic lipoperoxid ation. Dialyzed and nondialyzed uremic patients had higher bcl-2 protein co ncentrations than healthy subjects. Dialysis causes a significant reduction in the concentrations of bcl-2 protein which becomes statistically signifi cant during the 3rd hour. In both groups of uremic patients a positive corr elation was found between bcl-2 protein and products of lipoperoxidation.