Bcl-2 related protein A1; also known as Bcl2A1 and Bfl1, is an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member preferentially expressed in hematopoietic and endothelial cells (1). Bfl1 is involved in a variety of cellular activities such as embryonic development, homeostatis and tumorigenesis. Expression of Bfl1 is stimulated by NF-kB in response to inflammatory stimuli and is up-regulated by TNF-alpha, IL1-beta, IGF1, GMC-SF, CD40 and phorbol ester (2-3). Blf1 has also been shown to reduce the release of pro-apoptotic cytochrome c from the mitochondria, block caspase activation and suppress apoptosis induced by p53 (4-5).
