Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
Published on: February 16, 2015
Comparative analysis of autophagy and apoptosis pathways in viral and alcoholic cirrhosis: An immunohistochemical
Gunnur Demircan1, Selimcan Berk1, Doga Karayilan1
1From the Department of Medical Biology & Genetics (Demircan) and from the Department of Pathology (Elbegi, Karpuz), Faculty of Medicine, Demiroglu Bilim University; from the Department of Pharmacology (Berk, Karayilan, Ozgur) and from the Department of Public Health (Yavuz), Faculty of Medicine, Bahcesehir University; from the Department of Medical Pharmacology (Ketenci), Faculty of Medicine, İstinye University; from the Department of Pathology (Midi), Faculty of Medicine, Altınbaş University; from the Department of Medical Pharmacology (Akin), Faculty of Medicine, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objectives:
To study the different cellular death mechanisms between viral cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis. The research investigated autophagy and apoptosis mechanisms in hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol-induced cirrhosis.
Methods:
The research team analyzed biopsy samples from the liver which were obtained at Florence Nightingale Hospitals, Istanbul, Turkey. The experimental protocols were performed between February 2021 and February 2023. The study included 19 HBV, 15 HCV, 13 alcohol-related cirrhosis patients and 6 normal liver tissues. Beclin-1, Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and LC3 expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Staining intensity as well as extent underwent evaluation through H-score methodology. The expression levels of Beclin-1 (control: 0.7±0.3, HBV: 6.0±1.4, HCV: 5.1±1.3, alcohol: 4.8±1.2), caspase-3 (control: 0.4±0.2, HBV: 6.0±1.4, HCV: 5.1±1.2, alcohol: 5.5±1.3) and Bcl-2 (control: 0.3±0.2, HBV: 5.5±1.2, HCV: 4.8±1.1, alcohol: 4.6±1.1) were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.001). LC3 expression revealed no between-group differences. A positive association for Beclin-1 with Caspase-3 (r=0.582) alongside negative association for Bcl-2 with Caspase-3 (r=-0.608) was documented.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that both autophagic and apoptotic pathways are active in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. Similar cell death mechanisms were found to be involved in viral and alcoholic cirrhosis, but these pathways were more prominently activated in viral cirrhosis.
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

