Serum Bcl-2 Levels in Patients with β-Thalassemia Minor: A Pilot Study

摘要

Objective: Anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL may play a role in the survival of erythroid progenitor cells.Information about these proteins in patients with β-thalassemia minor is limited. We aimed to determine the levels of serumBcl-2 in patients with β-thalassemia minor.Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven patients (60 females and 37 males with mean age of 29±21 years) with β-thalassemiaminor were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of β-thalassemia minor was based on whole blood counts, family history,and HbA2 levels estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The control group comprised 23 healthy adults (17females and 6 males with mean age of 58±9 years) without anemia. The levels of serum Bcl-2 were measured by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay. Mann-Whitney U tests were used in statistical evaluation and p0.05), these levels were higher in β-thalassemia minor patients than controls.Conclusion: There are damaged beta chains in β-thalassemia minor. Therefore, it is expected that premature death of redblood cells may occur due to apoptosis. The mean age of the control group was higher than that of the β-thalassemia minorgroup; this may be why Bcl-2 levels were higher in the β-thalassemia minor group. It is known that older age constitutes a riskfor increased apoptosis. Other proteins (Bad, Bax, etc.) and pathways [CD95 (Fas) ligand] associated with apoptosis shouldbe evaluated in future studies including more patients.