Abstract
Apoptosis is triggered when proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family bearing only the BH3 association domain bind to Bcl-2 or its homologs and block their antiapoptotic activity. To test whether loss of the BH3-only protein Bim could prevent the cellular attrition caused by Bcl-2 deficiency, we generated mice lacking both genes. Mice without Bcl-2 have a fragile lymphoid system, become runted, turn gray, and succumb to polycystic kidney disease. Concomitant absence of Bim prevented all these disorders. Indeed, loss of even one bim allele restored normal kidney development, growth, and health. These results demonstrate that Bim levels set the threshold for initiation of apoptosis in several tissues and suggest that degenerative diseases might be alleviated by blocking BH3-only proteins.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alleles
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Animals
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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Apoptosis* / drug effects
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Apoptosis* / genetics
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
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Cell Survival / drug effects
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Ear / growth & development
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Gene Deletion
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Hair Color / genetics
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Hematopoiesis
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Homeostasis
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Interleukin-7 / pharmacology
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Kidney / growth & development
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Kidney / pathology
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Kidney / physiology
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Lymphocytes / cytology
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Lymphocytes / drug effects
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Lymphocytes / metabolism
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Melanocytes / cytology
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Polycystic Kidney Diseases / genetics
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Polycystic Kidney Diseases / metabolism
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Polycystic Kidney Diseases / pathology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / deficiency*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Survival Rate
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bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Substances
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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Bak1 protein, mouse
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
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Carrier Proteins
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Interleukin-7
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Membrane Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein