Objective: To explore the expression of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) proteins and survivin and its correlation with cell apoptosis as well as with the development and progression of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL).
Methods: TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and immunohistochemistry were used to study cell apoptosis and expression of MCL-1 proteins and survivin proteins in 43 patients with B-NHL and 10 with reactive hyperplasia (RH) lymphoid tissue.
Results: The positive rate of MCL-1 proteins and survivin proteins was 58.1% (25/43) and 69.8% (30/43) respectively. The expression of MCL-1 proteins was not detected in RH lymphoid tissue, but that of survivin was detected in 10.0% (1/10). The expression of MCL-1 proteins in aggressive B-NHL was higher than that in indolent B-NHL (70.0 % vs 30.8 %, P < 0.05). The expression of survivin in aggressive B-NHL was also higher than that in indolent B-NHL (80.0% vs 46.2%, P < 0.05). Apoptotic index (AI) was not correlated positively with the expression of MCL-1, but correlated positively with the expression of survivin (r = 0.429, P < 0.01). MCL-1 and survivin were correlated positively in B-NHL (r = 0.598, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: MCL-1 proteins as family member of BCL-2 have no influence on apoptosis but survivin may participate in the regulation mechanism of B-NHL apoptosis. It is indicated that the two proteins with a close relationship may take part in the development and progression of B-NHL.