Introduction

• an initiator of apoptosis in the Bcl-2-regulated pathway. PMID: 17720882

• defined as the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein of the Bcl-2 family. PMID: 17717606

• critical for mediating apoptosis of hematopoietic cells including B cells. PMID: 17705137

• a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that is induced and contributes to neuron death in response to NGF deprivation. PMID: 17702754

• a BH3-only protein belonging to the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulators. PMID: 17637819

• critical for eliminating most effector T cells. PMID: 16761315

• an important regulator of the negative selection of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and of T lymphocytes both in the thymus and the periphery. PMID: 16394656

• a direct target of a neuronal E2F-dependent apoptotic pathway. PMID: 16162916

• proapoptotic relative of Bcl-2 which plays a key role in the cytokine-mediated survival system. PMID: 15226421

• a distant proapoptotic relative, is emerging as a major physiologic antagonist of Bcl2, and is a tumor suppressor, at least in B lymphocytes, and is haploinsufficient. PMID: 15079075

Normal Expression

• Bim was found in hematopoietic, epithelial, neuronal, and germ cells. Bim(L) and Bim(EL) were coexpressed at similar levels in many cell types, but Bim(S) was not detected. Microscopic examination revealed a punctate pattern of Bim(L) and Bim(EL) immunostaining, indicating association with cytoplasmic structures. PMID: 10934149

• Bim alpha3 distributed to both plasma and nucleus of HEK 293 cell. PMID: 15147734

• most of the Bim in both healthy and apoptotic T cells is associated with mitochondria, not microtubules. PMID: 15136728

• Bim possesses a hydrophobic C-terminus and localizes to intracytoplasmic membranes. PMID: 9430630

Abnormal Expression

• Bim mRNA and protein were strongly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues compared to relevant non-tumorous regions, but the ratio of variant isoforms showed no difference between tumorous and non-tumorous tissues. PMID: 17503221

Diagnostic & Therapeutic Value

• Bim is a proapoptotic effector of Abeta and of dysregulated cell cycle proteins in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and identify both Bim and cell cycle elements as potential therapeutic targets. PMID: 17251431

Applications

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

• we used tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry to measure Bim expression in 52 cases of dysplastic nevi, 159 cases of primary melanomas and 52 cases of melanoma metastases, and evaluated the prognostic value of Bim expression. PMID: 17637819

• Immunohistochemistry of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases and corresponding normal kidney showed strong Bim reactivity in renal tubules of all cases but loss of Bim in 35 of 45 RCC samples. PMID: 17486061

• The expression pattern of Bim was investigated by immunohistochemical staining, immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting, and in situ hybridization. PMID: 10934149

Western Blot (WB)

• Out of nine renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines investigated, six showed strongly diminished or undetectable levels of Bim protein by western blotting. PMID: 17486061

• The authors explored the temporal profiles of the expression levels and subcellular localization of BH3-only proteins in permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by Western blot analysis. PMID: 12142566