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

BACKGROUND

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.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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