Organ- and tissue-specific alterations in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in CD1 female mice of different ages

Biogerontology. 2006 Feb;7(1):63-7. doi: 10.1007/s10522-005-6038-x.

Abstract

The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, which also has cytoprotective and antioxidant functions might be one of the crucial factors that altogether, establish how a cell may deal with stress and damage, contributing to longevity. Among the controversial issues to understand Bcl-2 functions in vivo, is to establish its content and variation in tissues during an organismal lifespan. In this work we analyzed the changes of Bcl-2 levels in lung, liver, heart, kidney, spleen and brain homogenates obtained from CD1 mice throughout their lifespan (newborn to 24 months). A tendency of increment was observed in all the organs analyzed, except brain where Bcl-2 was not detected. Bcl-2 over-expression during aging could be interpreted as a protective mechanism preventing cell death, despite the overall accumulated cell damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Apoptosis
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Female
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2