Purpose: Recent literature data indicate a key role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of Bax, Bid, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in non-dysplastic and dysplastic epithelium in inflamated mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods: The study consists of 18 patients with diagnosed ulcerative colitis. The expression of proteins was determined immunohistochemically. Results: Lack of Bax expression in normal epithelium of the inflamed intestinal mucosa (94.4%) and a weak expression of this protein were found in dysplastic glandular cells (67%). The Bax expression of dysplastic epithelium correlates with reduced severity of chronic inflammation (p<0.005). Bid expression in non-dysplastic glands was found in 67% of cases vs. 16% in dysplastic epithelium that was associated with the occurrence of epithelial erosions or ulcers (p<0.05). Moderate cytoplasmic expression of Bcl-xl was noted in 27.7% of patients in normal epithelium and in 66.1% within dysplastic lesions. Bcl-xl expression in dysplastic glandular cells correlated with the presence of neutrophils in the lamina propria (p <0.05). Conclusions: The immunohistochemical expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl increase and Bid protein expression decreases in dysplastic glandular tubes as compared to non-dysplastic intestinal epithelium in inflamed mucosa, which may suggest an imbalance of controlled cell death in ulcerative colitis.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.