Expression of bcl-2 oncogene in gastric precancerous lesions and its correlation with syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine.

Aim: To observe the protein and mRNA expression of bcl-2 oncogene in gastric precancerous lesions (GPL) and to analyze its correlation with syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Methods: Sixty-seven patients with GPL confirmed by gastroscopy and pathology were studied, including 39 cases of moderate gastric mucosal dysplasia, 19 cases of severe gastric mucosa dysplasia, 9 cases of incomplete colon metaplasia. In syndrome differentiation of TCM, 17 cases belonged to the syndrome of qi and yin deficiency of the spleen and stomach complicated by qi stagnation, 21 cases belonged to the syndrome of qi and yin deficiency of the spleen and stomach complicated by stomach heat, 29 cases belonged to the syndrome of qi and yin deficiency of the spleen and stomach complicated by blood stasis. Protein and mRNA expression of bcl-2 oncogene were detected by labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively.

Results: Abnormal expression of protein and mRNA on bcl-2 oncogene was found in GPL, which increased gradually with the course of lesions. In moderate and severe gastric mucosal dysplasia and incomplete colon metaplasia, there was no difference in the expression of bcl-2 oncogene (P>0.05). In different accompanying syndromes, the expression of protein and mRNA on bcl-2 oncogene increased gradually in the following order: deficiency of both qi and yin of the spleen and stomach accompanying qi stagnation-->stomach heat-->blood stasis. In GPL, compared with accompanying blood stasis, there was an obvious difference in the expression of bcl-2 oncogene between the syndrome of qi and yin deficiency of the spleen and stomach and accompanying stomach heat, so did accompanying qi stagnation (the level of protein: chi(2) = 8.45, P<0.05; the level of mRNA: chi(2) = 7.35, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Apoptosis-associated bcl-2 oncogene is abnormally expressed in GPL, which correlates with different accompanying syndromes in TCM.