Bcl-2 gene family in endocrine pathology: A review

Bcl-2 is a member of a large multigene family, which includes genes that ca n inhibit or promote apoptosis. The regulation of apoptosis is achieved by homo- or heterodimerization of their proteins through four highly conserved domains. Bcl-2 protein is a strong cell death suppressor in a wide range o f cell types and under a variety of stimuli. Bcl-2 and the other members of this family are differentially expressed in the endocrine glands and disre gulation of their expression seems to contribute to the neoplastic transfor mation in these organs. The significance of bcl-2 and the related proteins for endocrine pathology at the experimental and clinical level is reviewed in this article.