AVEN, a cell death regulator, is an important signal inducer in acute leuke-mias. AVEN is a highly conserved peripheral membrane protein that protects the cell against the proteolytic activation of caspases as well as Apaf-1 mediated apoptosis by interfering with Apaf-1’s ability to self-associate. Bcl-2 and Bad also interact with AVEN to prevent apoptosis. AVEN is highly expressed in ovary, heart, thymus, spleen, testis and colon, but can also be detected in other tissues. Erythropoietin and methylprednisolone may play important roles in the expression of AVEN in cardiac tissue, especially after a traumatic brain injury. In young patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), AVEN expression may be a useful tool in prognosis prediction.
