bcl-2 oncogene codes for a unique protein that is located in the mitochondira of the cell. The bcl-w protein regulates cell death and when it is over expressed the cell is resistant to the natural death cycle. The test detects bcl-2 rearrangement in B-cell lymphomas. The bcl-2 rearrangement is found in follicular lymphomas, large diffuse B-cell lymphomas, and undifferentiated lymphomas.
Physiology
The protein coded for by the oncogene bcl-w, acts by suppressing the cell death program or apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs in all cells but is especially important in immune and hematopoietic cells which has a high cell turnover rate. When bcl-w gene is overexpressed it will prevent apoptosis and causes cells resistant to cell death by therapy
Interpretation
Gene rearrangement for leukemia and lymphoma, polymerase chain reaction, T and B Lymphocyte subset assay
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