Expression of Bax, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 proteins in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

• Published in: Histopathology Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 928 - 935
• Main Authors: Piekarska, A, Kubiak, R, Szymczak, W, Piekarski, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: apoptosis; Apoptosis - physiology; Bax protein; Bcl-2 protein; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; bcl-X Protein - metabolism; Bcl-xL protein; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biopsy; chronic hepatitis C; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - metabolism; Hepatitis C, Chronic - pathology; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatocytes - pathology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Infectious diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Bax protein; Bcl-2 protein; chronic hepatitis C; Hepatic disease; Inflammation; Bcl-xL protein; Infection; Anatomic pathology; Clinical stage; Cell death; Viral disease; Fibrosis; Digestive diseases; Apoptosis; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02697.x

Aims:  To determine the expression of regulators of apoptosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Methods and 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).
Conclusion:  Major differences in expression of studied proteins were observed in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.