Studies on bcl-2 protein in cultured lymphoid cells.

Bcl-2 protein was analysed in cell cultures derived from non-Hodgkin lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients. The presence of bcl-2 proto-oncogene protein product has been demonstrated on cytospin preparations utilising immunochemical methods. The correlation between the expression of the bcl-2 protein and the appearance of proliferation- or differentiation related figures was studied. The reported bcl-2 up regulation in malignant lymphoid cells was confirmed in haemo- and lymphopoietic progenitor cells as well as in TPA/PHA activated peripheral blood lymphocytes. In comparison to neoplastic cells lower intensity of bcl-2 positive staining in freshly isolated cells from non-leukaemic tissue was observed.