In this study, we investigated the gene expression of 14 apoptotic genes (E2F1, p21/WAF, ICE-LAP3, Fas Antigen, CPP-32, GADD153, ICE-beta, c-Fos, c-Jun, Bax-alpha, Bcl-2, Bcl-(x)L, BAK, and p53) in 5 normal and 6 AD human hippocampal tissues, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
The expression levels of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) were increased, and the expression levels of caspase‑3, Bcl‑2 associated X protein and AD‑associated proteins were decreased in the hippocampus following treatment with vildagliptin.
In the common DLB forms, nigral bcl-xL and bcl-2 proteins levels were significantly decreased in the DLB cases associated with a concomitant severe AD pathology (p < 0.05).
Our results suggest that the Bcl-2rs956572 polymorphism is associated with different strengths of structural covariance in AD that determine clinical outcomes.
The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3 domain only (BH3-only) proteins are central regulators of cell death in various physiological and pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).