BCL2 (E17)

BCL2 is a protein associated with apoptosis regulation produced by the bcl-2 gene, located on chromosome 14q32.1 BCL2 is comprised of an alpha (239 amino acids) and beta chain. BCL2 (and thus BCL2 alpha chain) is found in mitochondrial and nuclear membranes and in the cytosol rather than the cell surface. In normal lymphoid tissue, BCL2 antibody reacts with small B-lymphocytes in the mantle zone and many cells within the T-cell areas. Anti-BCL2 has shown consistent negative reaction on reactive germinal center B-cells and positive staining of neoplastic follicles in follicular lymphoma.2 This antibody is valuable when distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic follicular proliferation in lymph node biopsies. This antibody may also be used in distinguishing between those follicular lymphomas that express BCL2 protein and the small number in which the neoplastic cells are BCL2 negative. Anti-BCL2 has been used as an indicator of minimal residual disease in the bone marrow of follicular lymphoma patients when staining is strong and uniform.3