Figure 1.

 Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was overexpressed in hepatitis C virus (HCV) induced chronic liver disease. Total extracts of liver biopsy samples from patients with HCV related mild chronic hepatitis (MCH), severe chronic hepatitis (SCH), and cirrhosis (CIR) as well as control liver samples (CT) were analysed by western blot to determine COX-2 protein levels (72 kDa). (A) Points represent the COX-2 value of each liver biopsy sample analysed. COX-2 expression levels were significantly higher in MCH (n = 22, mean 2.4-fold), SCH (n = 5, mean 3.3-fold), and CIR (n = 5, mean 3.9-fold) than in CT liver samples (n = 10). (B) Top: representative western blot of COX-2 is shown. Blots were normalised by measuring the amount of β-actin. Bottom: prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels were determined in the same liver samples by enzyme immunoassay. Bars are mean (SEM) of all liver biopsy samples analysed in each histological group. A statistically significant increase in PGE₂ levels was found in liver samples from SCH (n = 5, mean 1.9-fold) and CIR (n = 5, mean 3.3-fold) compared with CT samples (n = 10). (C) Top: representative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of COX-2 is shown. Bottom: bars are mean (SEM) of all liver biopsy samples analysed in each histological group. RT-PCR analysis showed that COX-2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in MCH (n = 22, mean 2.6-fold), SCH (n = 5, mean 3.5-fold), and CIR (n = 5, mean 5.3-fold) than in CT liver biopsy samples (n = 10), in agreement with the protein analysis. (D) The same samples as in (A) were used to determine NOS-2 protein levels. Points represent the NOS-2 value of each liver biopsy sample analysed. NOS-2 expression was significantly higher in MCH (n = 22, mean 1.6-fold), SCH (n = 5, mean 2-fold), and cirrhosis (n = 5, mean 3.2-fold) than in CT liver biopsy samples (n = 10). *p<0.05 versus the CT group.