Survivin and tuberous sclerosis complex: an antiapoptotic protein expressed in neurons cells ao tubers

Survivin is a new discovered antiapoptosic protein that regulates cell division and inhibits apoptosis by blocking caspase activation. Since Survivin overexpression occurs in most cancers, we investigated whether Survivin is expressed in hamartomas cells in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Stable overexpression of Survivin accelerate apoptosis. We explored if surviving was expressed in angiolypomas and tubers of patients with TSC disorder. In summary, our results identify an overexpression protein levels in the tubers and angiolypomas, suggesting that survivin could play a role in aberrant cellular proliferation in TSC.