bcl-x Expression In Circulating Erythroblasts From Patients With Ineffective Erythropoiesis

Bcl-2 and Bcl-x gene product have been shown to supress the programmed cell deth of cultured erythroid precursors. Further in vitro studies showed that this Bcl-xL expression was highly erythropoietin-dependent in the early stage erythroblasts. These lines of evidence prompted us to assess the expression patternss of apaptosis inhibitory genes on circulating erythroblasts from patients with ineffective erythropoiesis due to beta-thalassemia intermedia.