The expression of bcl-2 in chronic liver diseases.

Objective: Bcl-2 is an oncogene that prevents apoptosis (programmed cell death). Expression of bcl-2 protein has been reported in association with a variety of human tumors.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey during the period 1996 to 2000 on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens of 69 liver biopsy with chronic liver disease. To evaluate the clinical importance of bcl-2 expression in chronic liver disease and its correlation with biochemical parameters, underlying liver disease types and histopathological parameters; we studied the bcl-2 expression in 69 biopsy proven patients. These were diagnosed with chronic liver disease, and had no other disease or had not received any treatment. Of these patients, 30 were diagnosed as having hepatitis C, 20 with hepatitis B, 19 with liver cirrhosis.

Results: The bcl-2 expression was significantly higher in the hepatitis C group when compared with the hepatitis B group (p<0.001). No significant correlation was found among serum transaminase, bilirubin, albumin, hepatitis C virus-RNA, hepatitis B virus-DNA levels, prothrombin time and bcl-2 expression (p>0.05).

Conclusions: The reason for the increased expression of bcl-2 in hepatitis C is unclear and may be related to difference in the injury mechanism of the virus, differences in the infection period, and immunology.