Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in neurofibrillary tangles in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Double-labeling immunohistochemistry to Bcl-2 and Bax and to tau protein was examined in the brains of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) to study the possible relationship between the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and neurofibrillary tangle formation. No differences between Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactivity in neurons of the brain stem were observed in PSP patients and controls. Moreover, the intensity of Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactivity was similar in tangle-bearing and non-tangle-bearing neurons in PSP patients. These results suggest that Bcl-2 and Bax are probably not implicated in neurofibrillary tangle formation in PSP.