Expression of apoptotic markers BCL-2 and Bax in chronic hepatitis C virus patients.
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.
Hanafy
Shaden Muawia
SM
Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Minufya University, Sadat City, Egypt. shadenmuawia@yahoo.com
Shehata
Osamma H
OH
Farahat
Nahla M
NM
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*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein