The mRNA and protein expression levels of B cell leukemia/lymphoma (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2 associated X (Bax), cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), cyclin D1 and p21 were evaluated using reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively.
The protein synthesis inhibitor silvestrol has potent activity in B-cell leukemias via the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, and also reduces cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer and lymphoma cell lines.
Analysis of the expression profiles showed that the significantly up-regulated genes included cyclin D1, cell division cycle 37 (CDC37) and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), while the down-regulated genes included cyclin D2 and CD9 antigen (p24) in MM cases with cyclin D1 overexpression.
The 11q13 breakpoint region of t(11;14) (q13;q32), translocated to the Ig heavy chain locus at 14q32, has been designated as BCL-1 for B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-1, but the nature of the transcriptional unit has long remained unclear.
Murine BCL-1B-cell leukemia thus provides a unique model of disseminated B-lineage leukemia to evaluate the antileukemic efficacy of anti-CD19 immunotoxins.