The BCL2 antagonist reduced the expression of TGFβ-induced factors involved in differentiation of myofibroblasts, and therefore might represent a potential treatment option against CD-associated fibrosis.
IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease by induction of the antiapoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs).
In this study we carried out an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of several apoptosis-related proteins (active caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, TNFR1, CD4, and CD8) in uninflamed mucosa in Crohn's disease (CD) patients treated with anti-TNF agents.
In addition, lamina propria lymphocytes from inflamed Crohn's disease tissues manifest increased expression of Bcl-2 after CD2 pathway stimulation and elevated Bcl-2 levels in cultures of unstimulated T cells.