Figure 6. Comparison of protein expression of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic members in CLL cells between suspension cultures and stroma (A–J).

CLL lymphocytes were incubated with NKTert stromal cell line at different time periods (day 1 and day 3) and the individual protein levels of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic proteins were determined by immunoblotting experiments. One representative patient data for expression of multi-domain pro-apoptotic protein Bax (A) and quantitative analysis of all the samples evaluated for Bax is provided (B). One representative patient data for a panel of BH3 only pro-apoptotic proteins (C) and quantitative analysis of all the samples evaluated for BH3 only pro-apoptotic proteins is provided (D–J). Each symbol on the graph represents fold change in protein expression with respect to that after stromal co-incubations, which is normalized to respective protein levels of control samples. One sample t test statistical analysis was performed.