Inflammatory biomarker alterations and Caspase-3 gene expression in patients with Entamoeba spp. infection

Microscopically diagnosed Entamoeba spp. infection is associated with inflammatory and cellular responses that may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Caspase-3 is a key apoptosis-related gene involved in the execution phase of programmed cell death. This study aimed to evaluate Caspase-3 gene expression in peripheral blood samples obtained from patients with microscopically diagnosed Entamoeba spp.

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 31 infected patients and 14 healthy controls. Relative Caspase-3 mRNA expression was quantified using SYBR Green-based quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and normalized against β-actin. Relative expression levels were calculated using the 2⁻ΔΔCt method, while statistical analyses were performed on ΔCt values. The mean ΔCt value was significantly lower in infected patients (6.306 ± 0.398) than in controls (7.658 ± 0.221), indicating increased Caspase-3 gene expression in the infected group. The mean difference between groups was 1.352 cycles (95% CI: 1.19-1.51; p < 0.0001). Relative expression analysis demonstrated a 2.65 ± 0.75-fold increase in Caspase-3 expression in infected patients compared with controls. Melt curve analysis confirmed specific amplification of both Caspase-3 and β-actin.

These findings suggest the possible involvement of apoptosis-associated transcriptional changes during Entamoeba spp. infection; however, functional apoptotic activation was not directly assessed.