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p53 protein expression in chronic hepatitis C; effect of interferon alpha 2b therapy
Anatol Panasiuk1, Danuta Prokopowicz, Janusz Dzieciol
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Background/Aims:
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.
Methodology:
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.
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