Expression of bcl-2 and loss of Fas (CD95) expression in dermal lymphocytes may play a role in the development of skin lesions and may account for the chronic course with periodic exacerbations in BD.
Interestingly, thalidomide and NF-kappaB small interfering RNA down-regulated cFLIP and Bcl-x(L) expression levels and sensitized BD activated T cells to CD95-induced apoptosis.