Cell proliferation and regulation of apoptosis in human glomerulonephritis

Summary: We examined the expression of the protein products and mRNA of protooncogenes associated with cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis (bcl‐2, c‐fos, c‐myc, and p53) in normal renal tissues and biopsy specimens from patients with glomerulonephritis. Bcl‐2 was up‐regulated in the glomeruli of several forms of human glomerulonephritis. Bcl‐2 expression was significantly correlated with mesangial hypercellularity and proteinuria, c‐myc and c‐fos expression is associated with mesangial proliferation and matrix expasion in human glomerulonephritis and may predict subsequent progression.