Finally, the transcript and protein levels of mouse Bcl2, Bax and Trp53 genes were evaluated in samples from the peripheral blood and the brain of Q84 transgenic mice, expressing the full-length human disease ATXN3 gene, to determine whether this widely used MJD mouse model replicates the findings observed in MJD subjects. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is Machado-Joseph disease.