National Journal of Andrology 2009;15(5):452-454

B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Min-Dao ZHANG 1 2 ; Yong-Ning ZHAO ; Li-Wen AN

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) gene is an important member of the Bcl-2 family, a type of protein that plays an important role in the process of cell apoptosis. Bcl-2 does not change the rate of cell proliferation, but prolongs the life and increases the number of cells by counteracting a series of apoptosis. In the recent years, more and more evidence has shown a close correlation of the Bcl-2 gene with the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease whose mechanism is not yet fully understood but is drawing more and more attention towards the role of cell apoptosis.