Bcl-2 family gene products in cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury

The proto-oncogene bcl-2 plays a key role in regulating programmed cell dea th in neurons, The present review discusses the mechanisms by which bcl-2 f amily genes regulate programmed cell death, and their role in controlling c ell death in cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain, Expression of several b cl-2 family members is altered in brain tissues after ischemia and trauma, suggesting that bcl-2 family genes could play a role in determining the fat e of injured neurons. Furthermore, alteration of expression of bcl-2 family genes using transgenic approaches, viral vectors, or anti-sense oligonucle otides modifies neuronal cell death and neurological outcome after injury, These data suggest that the activity of bcl-2 family gene products particip ates in determining cellular and neurologic outcomes in ischemia and trauma , Strategies that either mimic the death-suppressor effects or inhibit the death-promoter effects of bcl-2 family gene products may improve outcome af ter ischemia and trauma.