p53 protein expression in chronic hepatitis C; effect of interferon alpha 2b therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Gene p53 plays an important role in apoptosis or regeneration of damaged tissues. HCV activates gene p53 directly and/or indirectly. In chronic hepatitis, hepatocyte regeneration is regulated by gene p53 and growth factors. The aim of the study was the evaluation of protein p53 expression on hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis C regarding inflammatory activity and fibrosis as well as the influence of interferon alpha 2b (IFNalpha2b) on gene p53 activity.


METHODS
In 24 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFNalpha2b (18MU sc/week/48 weeks), in whom liver biopsies were performed before and after IFNalpha2b treatment. The immunohistochemical method determined protein p53 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue sections. The percentage of p53-positive hepatocytes and intensity of protein p53 accumulation were evaluated under a light microscope.


RESULTS
IFN treatment caused the increase in the percentage of p53-positive hepatocytes and the intensity of protein p53 accumulation. The highest level of protein p53 expression was observed in IFNalpha2b-treated tissues with the decrease in inflammatory activity and fibrosis. HCV infection elimination did not affect protein p53 expression. We observed the decrease in p53-positive hepatocytes in tissues without improvement of morphological regeneration during IFNalpha2b therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in protein p53 expression can be considered a prognostic marker of the positive effect of IFNalpha2b treatment and HCV elimination. It may result from the effect of the increase in regeneration or apoptosis of HCV infected hepatocytes.
Panasiuk
Anatol
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Prokopowicz
Danuta
D
Dzieciol
Janusz
J
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53