SIRT3在氧糖剥夺再灌注损伤小鼠神经元中的表达及意义

目的:通过建立体外脑缺血模型,探讨沉默信息因子3(SIRT3)在小鼠皮层神经元氧糖剥夺再灌注(OGD/R)损伤后的表达和意义。方法:C57BL/6J小鼠皮层神经元原代培养7天后,以氧糖剥夺不同时长(2 h、4 h、6 h、8 h)再灌注24 h作为观察时间点,利用细胞增殖-毒性检测试剂盒(Cell Counting Kit-8,CCK-8)检测细胞活力;小鼠乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)试剂盒检测LDH释放;蛋白印迹法(Western blot WB)观察微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC3-Ⅱ)、活化凋亡蛋白3(Cleaved caspase-3)、以及SIRT3的表达变化;免疫荧光下进一步观察LC3-II、SIRT3表达。结果:与正常组比,随着氧糖剥夺时间的延长,LDH释放量呈台阶式升高(P0.01),而神经元活性进展性下降(P0.01);蛋白印迹结果发现在缺血损伤后LC3-Ⅱ整体上调,并于OGD 4h达峰值,SIRT3分子表达趋势与LC3-Ⅱ相似均呈抛物线状,而Cleaved caspase-3整体上调;相应的,细胞免疫荧光结果显示缺血损伤后神经元胞体和突起中LC3呈点状高表达,与此同时SIRT3荧光强度亦增高。结论:神经元缺血时间越长损伤越重;LC3-Ⅱ和SIRT3表达呈现相似性;SIRT3可能通过调控线粒体自噬参与了拮抗神经元缺血损伤的作用。     

二苯乙烯苷抑制NADPH氧化酶对小鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨二苯乙烯苷(TSG)抑制NADPH氧化酶对小鼠脑缺血再灌注(I/R)损伤的保护作用。方法将100只实验小鼠随机分成5组:假手术组、模型组,TSG低剂量组(3 mg/kg),TSG中剂量组(6 mg/kg),TSG高剂量组(12 mg/kg),每组20只。通过双侧颈总动脉结扎造成小鼠脑缺血2 h,再灌注24 h后处死小鼠。采用HE染色法对小鼠脑组织进行病理学检测,采用DHE染色法和ESR波谱仪检测脑组织中活性氧(ROS)水平,采用Western blot法检测脑组织中NOX4和cleaved caspase-3/9蛋白的表达。结果小鼠脑缺血再灌注后,缺血区皮层脑组织出现严重的病理性损伤,其ROS水平显著升高,脑组织中NOX4蛋白表达显著上调,凋亡相关蛋白cleaved caspase-3/9蛋白表达量显著增加。TSG可以显著减轻小鼠缺血再灌注脑组织的病理性损伤,抑制ROS的产生,显著下调氧化应激蛋白NOX4的表达,并显著抑制凋亡相关蛋白cleaved caspase-3/9蛋白的表达。结论 TSG可通过抑制脑组织氧化应激蛋白NOX4的表达,减少活性氧的生成,并抑制凋亡相关蛋白cleaved caspase-3/9过度表达,对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤起保护作用。     

CHFR,PARP-1基因对B细胞淋巴瘤Raji细胞增殖和凋亡的影响（英文）

目的:探讨CHFR与聚(ADP-核糖)聚合酶1(PARP-1)基因对B细胞淋巴瘤Raji细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:用5-Aza-d C处理Raji细胞,后通过qRT-PCR检测CHFR的mRNA表达水平,western blot评估CHFR、PARP-1的蛋白表达。经CHFR慢病毒转染Raji细胞后,用qRT-PCR和western blot评估RAJI细胞中的CHFR、PARP-1变化。通过CCK-8法测定细胞的增殖情况,流式细胞术检测细胞周期的变化。结果:与对照组相比,经5-Aza-d C处理Raji组的CHFR mRNA表达显著上调(P0.01),PARP-1mRNA水平和蛋白表达水平明显降低(P0.05)。与对照组相比,Sh RNA组CHFR的mRNA表达显着下调(均P0.01),PARP-1mRNA和蛋白表达水平升高(P0.05)。CCK结果显示CHFR Sh RNA组细胞活力明显低于对照组(P0.05)。流式细胞术结果显示CHFR沉默后细胞凋亡率降低(P0.05)。结论:CHFR可能通过PARP-1调控B淋巴细胞的增殖和凋亡。     

异氟烷预处理对小鼠脑缺血再灌注后缺血半暗带炎性小体NALP3表达的影响

目的:研究吸入麻醉药异氟烷预处理对小鼠急性脑梗死缺血半暗带的保护作用,探讨NALP3(NACHT-LRR-PYD-containing Protiein-3 inflammsome)其中发挥的作用。方法:将45只ICR小鼠分为假手术组(Sham)、缺血再灌注组(I/R),异氟烷预处理组(Iso),每组数字15只。其中假手术组仅分离血管,缺血再灌注组采用线栓法制备缺血再灌注小鼠脑缺血半暗带模型,异氟烷预处理组造模前吸入2.0%异氟烷2 h。再灌注24 h后处死小鼠,激光共聚焦检测脑组织内NALP3的表达分布;蛋白免疫印迹(Western blot)法和荧光实时定量PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction)法检测脑缺血半暗带中NALP3、NF-κB的表达;酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测脑缺血半暗带中IL-1β的表达。结果:脑组织内NALP3的表达主要集中于脑缺血半暗带中,正常组织与梗死区NALP3表达较少;脑缺血再灌注后,I/R组小鼠脑缺血半暗带中NALP3、NF-κB的蛋白表达水平升高,mRNA表达水平显著升高,与sham组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);异氟烷与处理后,Iso组小鼠脑缺血半暗带中NALP3、NF-κB的蛋白表达水平降低,mRNA表达水平显著降低,与I/R组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);ELISA检测结果显示,I/R组脑缺血半暗带中IL-1β表达水平较Sham组升高了4倍,而异氟烷预处理组的小鼠脑缺血半暗带IL-1β表达水平较I/R组降低36%,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:异氟烷预处理可抑制NALP3的表达及炎症因子IL-1β的分泌,这种抑制作用可能与异氟烷抑制NF-κB的表达有关。     

乌司他丁对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后的保护作用及其机制研究

目的:探究乌司他丁在脑缺血再灌注损伤中的脑保护作用机制。方法:原代分离培养雄性SD大鼠脑皮质细胞,部分细胞经siRNA沉默HSP70基因。细胞先以无糖培养基在低氧条件下培养,12 h后复糖复氧模拟体外缺血再灌注损伤,并实施乌司他丁预处理干预,流式细胞术检测各组细胞的凋亡率,western-blotting检测Bcl-2,Bax,HSP70,JNK和p-JNK蛋白的表达。结果:与对照组比较,模型组脑组织细胞凋亡率明显增多(P0.05)、Bcl-2和Bax的表达量均有上调,Bcl-2/Bax的比值显著降低(P0.01)、HSP70的表达无显著变化;与模型组比较,乌司他丁处理组脑组织细胞凋亡率明显降低(P0.05)、Bax的表达量显著下调(P0.05),Bcl-2/Bax的比值显著上调(P0.05),HSP70的表达显著上调(P0.05),JNK的表达无显著变化、p-JNK则显著下调(P0.05)。HSP70沉默后乌司他丁的脑保护作用消失,对以上蛋白的表达无显著影响。结论:乌司他丁可能是通过上调HSP70表达进而抑制JNK信号转导通路对缺血再灌注引起的脑损伤起保护作用。     

NF-κB介导哮喘过敏原刺激后支气管上皮细胞的凋亡

目的研究核转录因子κB(NF-κB)在哮喘过敏原刺激后支气管上皮细胞中的表达及对细胞凋亡的影响。方法以300U/L尘螨抗原提取物作为过敏原刺激支气管上皮细胞系16HBE细胞,应用RT-PCR和Western blot检测尘螨抗原提取物刺激对16HBE细胞NF-κB(p65)表达水平的影响;用NF-κB(p65)sh RNA沉默16HBE细胞内NF-κB表达后,应用流式细胞术和Western blot检测NF-κB(p65)在过敏原刺激诱导16HBE细胞凋亡中的作用。结果过敏原刺激后使16HBE细胞内NF-κB(p65)m RNA和蛋白水平明显上调,明显诱导16HBE细胞凋亡和活化型caspase-3水平上调,沉默NF-κB可使过敏原刺激诱导的16HBE细胞凋亡率降低和活化型caspase-3水平上调减少。结论 NF-κB可介导哮喘过敏原刺激后的支气管上皮细胞凋亡。     

HMGB1/SREBP-1参与IFN-γ介导的小鼠肾小球系膜细胞内的脂质沉积

目的:探讨γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)诱导小鼠系膜细胞内脂质沉积的可能机制。方法:常规培养的小鼠系膜细胞(MMC)分为正常对照组、刺激组、刺激+空质粒组(sh-HMGB1)和刺激+质粒组(sh-SREBP-1);油红O染色观察细胞内脂质沉积;RT-PCR检测HMGB1、SREBP-1和脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)mRNA表达;Wesern blot检测蛋白表达。结果:油红O检测显示IFN-γ刺激组MMC细胞中出现明显脂滴;IFN-γ刺激能够上调HMGB、SREBP-1和FASmRNA及蛋白表达;沉默HMGB1能够降低IFN-γ诱导的SREBP-1和FAS上调,并减少细胞内脂质沉积;沉默SREBP-1能够减少HMGB诱导的MMC细胞内脂质沉积。结论:IFN-γ可能通过上调HMGB/SREBP-1/FAS的表达促进小鼠系膜细胞内脂滴沉积。     

芍药苷对巨细胞病毒感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响

海马组织在学习、记忆中发挥着重要作用,而且海马组织对巨细胞病毒(Cytomegalovirus,CMV)感染非常敏感,会使海马组织中的神经元大量丢失,神经元细胞发生凋亡.芍药苷可以减轻小鼠炎性脑损伤,其可能与提高机体抗氧化能力、清除体内自由基有关,但是芍药苷在CMV感染小鼠中研究甚少.为探讨芍药苷对CMV感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响,本研究将新生昆明小鼠随机分为4组:对照组、小鼠巨细胞病毒组(MCMV组)、芍药苷低剂量组(Pae-L组)和芍药苷高剂量组(Pae-H组),后三组通过腹腔注射MCMV病毒悬液建立模型,之后对照组和MCMV组经腹腔注射生理盐水,Pae-L组经腹腔注射10 mg/kg芍药苷,Pae-H组经腹腔注射30 mg/kg芍药苷;荧光定量PCR检测各组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量的变化;Morris水迷宫检测各组小鼠学习记忆功能指标的变化;蛋白质免疫印迹(Western Blot)检测各组小鼠脑组织中MMP-9的表达变化;NeuN免疫染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞的变化;TUNEL染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡的变化;Western Blot检测各组小鼠海马组织中Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达的变化.结果显示,与对照组比较,MCMV组小鼠的逃避潜伏期明显增加,穿越平台次数明显减少,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平显著上调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目显著减少,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数显著增加,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平显著上调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著下调;与MCMV组比较,Pae-L组和Pae-H组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量减少,逃避潜伏期减少,穿越平台次数增加,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平下调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目增加,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数减少,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平下调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平明显上调.本研究提示,芍药苷能够改善MCMV感染引起的脑损伤,减轻海马组织中神经元细胞的凋亡.     

过表达CYLD对氧糖剥夺/复氧大鼠原代皮质神经元中NF-κB信号通路的影响

脑卒中是目前导致我国人口寿命缩短的最主要原因之一。在缺血性脑卒中的局灶性缺血/再灌注后,受损脑组织中存在多种复杂的病理生理机制,核因子-κB(nuclear factor kappaB, NF-κB)信号通路参与的炎症反应是重要机制之一。相关研究显示,头帕肿瘤综合征蛋白(cylindromatosis, CYLD)可以参与NF-κB信号通路的调节。在脑缺血/再灌注损伤中,上调CYLD表达水平,对氧糖剥夺/复氧后NF-κB信号通路是否存在影响?如何影响?尚未见明确报道,这需要我们进一步探究。该研究通过上调CYLD在SD大鼠原代皮质神经元中的表达水平,观察其对氧糖剥夺/复氧(oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation, OGD/R)后神经元中NF-κB信号通路的影响。使用过表达慢病毒感染体外培养的原代皮质神经元,采用免疫荧光实验鉴定神经元, Western blot及RT-qPCR验证CYLD的过表达情况, CCK-8实验检测细胞活力, Western blot检测p-IκBα的蛋白表达情况, RT-qPCR检测NF-κB p65的mRNA表达情况。结果显示,过表达CYLD慢病毒可有效提高神经元中CYLD的表达水平;过表达CYLD后,较对照组相比,神经元在氧糖剥夺/复氧处理后的活力有所增高, p-IκBα的表达水平有所下降,同时NF-κB p65的m RNA表达水平也明显降低。研究结果表明,在原代皮质神经元中过表达CYLD,能减轻氧糖剥夺/再复氧对神经元的损伤、抑制NF-κB信号通路的激活。     

MicroRNA-424通过增加转录因子的表达减轻小鼠缺血性脑损伤

目的研究microRNA-424（miR-424）对小鼠脑缺血后神经细胞凋亡及转录因子表达的影响。方法将制备的慢病毒Lenti-miR-424（10’U／mL,8斗L）通过脑室注射,7d后采用大脑中动脉线栓闭塞（MCAO）的方法建立小鼠脑缺血模型,动物分4组：假手术组,假手术＋miR-424慢病毒,MCAO模型组,MCAO＋miR-424慢病毒处理组（n=6）。缺血8h后取脑组织,石蜡切片进行TUNEL染色,观察神经细胞凋亡的情况;Westernblot检测缺血脑组织中转录因子Pu．1、低氧诱导因子-la（hypoxiainduciblefactor-1a,HIF-1a）、凋亡相关蛋白p53的表达。结果TUNEL免疫荧光观察结果显示,miR-424可以减轻小鼠脑缺血后8h的神经细胞凋亡;Westernblot结果显示,在缺血前和缺血8h后,miR-424对正常小鼠或MCAO模型脑组织中转录因子的调节趋势是相同的,均增加转录因子PU．1蛋白、HIF．1a蛋白、以及凋亡相关蛋白p53的表达。结论miR-424可能通过增加小鼠脑组织转录因子PU．1和HIF-la,以及凋亡相关蛋白p53的表达,从而减轻脑缺血后神经细胞的凋亡。     

Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia Preconditioning Induced Brain Ischemic Tolerance by Up-Regulating Glial Glutamate Transporter-1 in Rats

Several studies showed that the up-regulation of glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) participates in the acquisition of brain ischemic tolerance induced by cerebral ischemic preconditioning or ceftriaxone pretreatment in rats. To explore whether GLT-1 plays a role in the acquisition of brain ischemic tolerance induced by intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IH) preconditioning (mimicking 5,000?m high-altitude, 6?h per day, once daily for 28?days), immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to observe the changes in the expression of GLT-1 protein in hippocampal CA1 subfield during the induction of brain ischemic tolerance by IH preconditioning, and the effect of dihydrokainate (DHK), an inhibitor of GLT-1, on the acquisition of brain ischemic tolerance in rats. The basal expression of GLT-1 protein in hippocampal CA1 subfield was significantly up-regulated by IH preconditioning, and at the same time astrocytes were activated by IH preconditioning, which appeared normal soma and aplenty slender processes. The GLT-1 expression was decreased at 7?days after 8-min global brain ischemia. When the rats were pretreated with the IH preconditioning before the global brain ischemia, the down-regulation of GLT-1 protein was prevented clearly. Neuropathological evaluation by thionin staining showed that 200?nmol DHK blocked the protective role of IH preconditioning against delayed neuronal death induced normally by 8-min global brain ischemia. Taken together, the up-regulation of GLT-1 protein participates in the acquisition of brain ischemic tolerance induced by IH preconditioning in rats.     

Enhanced expression of the Flt‐1 and Flk‐1 receptor tyrosine kinases in a newborn piglet model of ischemic tolerance

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenic factor induced by hypoxia, also exerts direct effects on neural tissues. VEGF up‐regulation after hypoxia coincides with expression of its two tyrosine kinase receptors Flt‐1(VEGFR‐1) and Flk‐1 (KDR/VEGFR‐2), which are the key mediators of physiological angiogenesis. We have recently shown that hypoxic‐preconditioning (PC) leading to tolerance to hypoxia–ischemia in neonatal piglet brain resulted in increased expression of VEGF. In this study, we used a hypoxic‐preconditioning model of ischemic tolerance to analyze the expression and cellular distribution of VEGF receptors and phosphorylation of cAMP‐response element‐binding protein (CREB) in newborn piglet brain. The response of Flt‐1 and Flk‐1 mRNA to PC alone was biphasic with peaks early (6 h) and late (1 week) after PC. The mRNA expression of Flt‐1 and Flk‐1 in piglets preconditioned 24 h prior to hypoxia–ischemia was significantly higher than non‐preconditioned piglets and remained up‐regulated up to 7 days. Furthermore, PC prior to hypoxia–ischemia significantly increased the protein levels of Flt‐1 and Flk‐1 compared with hypoxia–ischemia in a time‐dependent manner. Double‐immunolabeling indicated that both Flt‐1 and Flk‐1 are expressed in neurons and endothelial cells with a similar time course of expression following PC and that PC leads to the growth of new vessels. Finally, our data demonstrate that PC significantly phosphorylated and activated cAMP‐response element‐binding protein in nucleus. These results suggest that mechanism(s) initiated by PC can induce VEGF receptor up‐regulation in newborn brain and that VEGF–VEGF receptor‐coupled signal transduction pathways could contribute to the establishment of tolerance following hypoxia–ischemia.     

高压氧预处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:研究高压氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法:36只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组及高压氧预处理组,每组12只。高压氧预处理组大鼠在造模前5天给予高压氧预处理。采用线栓法建立大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,观察高压氧预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠神经功能缺损评分、脑梗死面积的影响,检测大鼠缺血脑组织COX-2 mRNA和蛋白的表达以及IL-1β、TNF-α、MDA的含量。结果:高压氧预处理可明显改善脑缺血再灌注大鼠神经功能缺损评分,减少脑梗死面积,降低COX-2m RNA和蛋白表达量,抑制IL-1β、TNF-α的表达,降低MDA水平。结论:高压氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤具有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与抑制IL-1β、TNF-α、COX-2的表达以及减弱脂质过氧化反应有关。     

Post-ischemic transcriptional and translational responses of EC-SOD in mouse brain and serum

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is neuroprotective, but its role in cerebral ischemia remains to be determined. We herein describe the topographical localization and quantitative changes in EC-SOD and its mRNA expression following cerebral ischemia in mice. Mice were subjected to transient forebrain ischemia and varied intervals of reperfusion. The measurements of EC-SOD using ELISA showed increased brain EC-SOD after 24 h of reperfusion and an increase in EC-SOD brain/serum ratio after 3 h. The immunohistochemical examination in normal mice showed strong EC-SOD immunoreactivity in the choroid plexus, pia mater, and ventral tuberal area of the hypothalamus. EC-SOD immunoreactivity in cortical and striatal capillary wall was conspicuous after 3 h. EC-SOD immunoreactivity was also noted in cortical neurons after 24 h. Northern blot analysis showed an increased EC-SOD mRNA expression in the brain after 24 h. An in situ hybridization study in normal mice demonstrated the mRNA expression of EC-SOD in choroid plexus and neurons through the brain especially in the cortex or ventral tuberal area of the hypothalamus, but demonstrated no mRNA expression of EC-SOD in the capillary wall. These findings suggest that EC-SOD accumulates on endothelial cells in response to this injury by an unknown mechanism, while cortical neurons produce EC-SOD themselves after cerebral ischemia with reperfusion.     

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) mediates ischemic preconditioning-induced ischemic tolerance via attenuating apoptosis in rat brain

A mild cerebral ischemic insult, also known as ischemic preconditioning (IPC), confers transient tolerance to a subsequent ischemic challenge in the brain. This study was conducted to investigate whether bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is involved in neuroprotection elicited by IPC in a rat model of ischemia. Ischemic tolerance was induced in rats by IPC (15 min middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO) at 48 h before lethal ischemia (2 h MCAO). The present data showed that IPC increased BMP-7 mRNA and protein expression after 24 h reperfusion following ischemia in the brain. In rats of ischemia, IPC-induced reduction of cerebral infarct volume and improvement of neuronal morphology were attenuated when BMP-7 was inhibited either by antagonist noggin or short interfering RNA (siRNA) pre-treatment. Besides, cerebral IPC-induced up-regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and down-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 at 24 h after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were reversed via inhibition of BMP-7. These findings indicate that BMP-7 mediates IPC-induced tolerance to cerebral I/R, probably through inhibition of apoptosis.     

Up-regulation of the expression of leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein in hepatocytes by the mediators of acute-phase response

Leucine-rich α₂-glycoprotein (LRG) is a plasma protein in which leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) were first discovered. Although the physiological function of LRG is not known, increases in the serum level of LRG have been reported in various diseases. In this study, we found that LRG was induced by recombinant human IL-6 in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The induction of LRG by IL-6 was up-regulated synergistically with either IL-1β or TNFα in a pattern similar to those for type 1 acute-phase proteins. We also found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administered intraperitoneally to mice enhanced dose-dependently the expression of LRG mRNA in the liver as well as those for mouse major acute-phase proteins. These results strongly suggest that LRG was a secretory type 1 acute-phase protein whose expression was up-regulated by the mediator of acute-phase response.     

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-gamma expression is upregulated in brain microglia and contributes to ischemia-induced microglial activation in acute experimental stroke

Microglia, the resident microphages of the CNS, are rapidly activated after ischemic stroke. Inhibition of microglial activation may protect the brain by attenuating blood-brain barrier damage and neuronal apoptosis after ischemic stroke. However, the mechanisms by which microglia is activated following cerebral ischemia is not well defined. In this study, we investigated the expression of PI3Kγ in normal and ischemic brains and found that PI3Kγ mRNA and protein are constitutively expressed in normal brain microvessels, but significantly upregulated in postischemic brain primarily in activated microglia following cerebral ischemia. In vitro, the expression of PI3Kγ mRNA and protein was verified in mouse brain endothelial and microglial cell lines. Importantly, absence of PI3Kγ blocked the early microglia activation (at 4 h) and subsequent expansion (at 24-72 h) in PI3Kγ knockout mice. The results suggest that PI3Kγ is an ischemia-responsive gene in brain microglia and contributes to ischemia-induced microglial activation and expansion.     

Expression of Bcl-2 in Adult Human Brain Regions with Special Reference to Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract: The expression of the protooncogene bcl-2 , an inhibitor of apoptosis in various cells, was examined in the adult human brain. Several experimental criteria were used to verify its presence; mRNA was analyzed by northern blot with parallel experiments in mouse tissues, by RNase protection, and by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Bcl-2 protein was detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Two bcl-2 mRNA species were identified in the human brain. The pattern of distribution of bcl-2 mRNA at the cellular level showed labeling in neurons but not glia. The in situ hybridization signal was stronger in the pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex and in the cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert than in the Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum. Both melanized and nonmelanized neurons were labeled in the substantia nigra. In the striatum, bcl-2 mRNA was detected in some but not all neurons. In the regions examined for Bcl-2 protein, the expression pattern correlated with the mRNA results. In patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, quantification of bcl-2 mRNA in the nucleus basalis of Meynert and substantia nigra, respectively, showed that the expression was unaltered compared with controls, raising the possibility that the expression of other components of apoptosis is modulated.