On the link between Bcl‐2 family proteins and glucocorticoid‐induced apoptosis

Abstract

As immunosuppressive agents, glucocorticoids (GCs) act by inhibiting the expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules at the transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels. In addition, GCs exerted their effects by modulating apoptosis. In view of the central role of the Bcl‐2 family protein in regulating apoptosis, it was tempting to speculate that GCs modulated apoptosis through modulation of the expression of proapoptotic (Bax, Bcl‐XS, Bak) and prosurvival (Bcl‐2, Bcl‐XL, Bcl‐w) Bcl‐2 family members.