*3.3.2 Bcl-2 family members in b-cell apoptosis*

In addition to the signaling proteins listed above, members of the Bcl-2 family play a significant role in the regulation of b-cell apoptosis in humans. The Bcl-2 family is known to include both the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins and the pro-apoptotic Bax, Bim, Bik, and Bak proteins. These proteins are regulators of the mitochondrial apoptosis triggering pathway [51], which plays an important role in b-cell death in T1DM [5, 52]. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio regulates the balance between the processes of induction and inhibition of apoptosis [34, 53]. It has been established that overexpression of antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family protects b-cells from apoptosis in T1DM [53–55]. Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis by blocking the transport

of cytochrome C protein from mitochondria, which plays an important role in the realization of the death signal.

It is believed that therapeutic methods aimed at enhancing the expression of antiapoptotic members of the Вcl-2 family can protect b-cells from apoptosis and reduce the area and degree of damage in T1DM. To date, convincing results in this area have been obtained only in experimental models using NOD mice [56]. Nevertheless, research into the therapeutic potential of Вcl-2 is ongoing.
