Bcl-2 rs956572 polymorphism is associated with increased anterior cingulate cortical glutamate in euthymic bipolar I disorder.

B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is an important regulator of cellular plasticity and resilience. In bipolar disorder (BD), studies have shown a key role for a Bcl-2 gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs956572 in the regulation of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) dynamics, Bcl-2 expression/levels, and vulnerability to cellular apoptosis. At the same time, Bcl-2 decreases glutamate (Glu) toxicity in neural cells.