Expression of Bax, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 proteins in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expression of regulators of apoptosis in chronic hepatitis C.


RESULTS
Expression of Bax, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 proteins was assessed immunohistochemically in liver biopsy specimens obtained from 89 adults with chronic hepatitis C. Expression of Bax in hepatocytes correlated inversely with grade of inflammation (P < 0.001) and stage of fibrosis (P = 0.011), classified according to the Scheuer score; expression of Bcl-xL in hepatocytes did not correlate with grade of inflammation (P = 0.106) or stage of fibrosis (P = 0.078); maximum Bcl-xL expression was observed in grade 3 inflammation and stage 4 fibrosis. Expression of Bcl-2 protein in hepatocytes was present in only two cases (both with advanced disease); the expression of Bcl-2 protein in interlobular bile duct epithelial cells correlated with the grade of inflammation (P = 0.018), but not with stage of fibrosis (P = 0.154). The expression of Bcl-2 protein in lymphoid cells infiltrating portal zones and lobules did not correlate with grade of inflammation (P = 0.113) or stage of fibrosis (P = 0.815).


CONCLUSIONS
Major differences in expression of studied proteins were observed in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Piekarska
A
A
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Chair of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. annapiekar@op.pl
Kubiak
R
R
Omulecka
A
A
Szymczak
W
W
Piekarski
J
J
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein