title: Expression of apoptotic markers BCL-2 and Bax in chronic hepatitis C virus patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C viral infection(HCV) influence the susceptibility to apoptosis. This could lead to insufficient antiviral immune response and persistent viral infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1: chronic HCV patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. Group 2: chronic HCV patients without liver cirrhosis and group 3: healthy subjects as control group. Bcl-2 and Bax expression were evaluated by flowcytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV patients (with cirrhosis and ascites) had a statistically significantly low Bcl-2 expression, a significantly high Bax expression and a significantly decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio compared with controls. While, the results are inverted in the other HCV group. Both groups of HCV, Bcl-2/Bax ratio showed a significant positive correlation with Bcl-2 and a significantly negative correlation with Bax.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic HCV exhibit a deregulation of apoptosis with the disease progression. This provides an insight into the pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection, and may contribute to the therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Minufya University, Sadat City, Egypt. shadenmuawia@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shaden Muawia
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hanafy
authors.forename: Osamma H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Shehata
authors.forename: Nahla M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Farahat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein