Immunohistochemical analysis of granzyme B in non-perforated appendicitis--short communication.

The aim of the present study was to determine the expression ofgranzyme B in non-perforated appendicitis. Appendix biopsies were obtained from the patients with clinically diagnosed as acute appendicitis and subjects admitted for elective abdominal surgery. All biopsies from the patients were non-perforated and histologically divided into acute and non-acute appendicitis. Granzyme B expression was assessed immunohistochemically. The results showed that granzyme B expression in both acute and non-acute appendicitis was significantly lower than that in the control appendix tissues (P < 0.05). The expression of this cytotoxic protein in acute and non-acute appendicitis was comparable (P > 0.05). Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that reduced expression of granzyme B in non-perforated appendicitis may reflect low cytotoxic activities which may prevent tissue damage.