Expressions of ASC and caspase-1 but not AIM2 are disrupted in chronic HBV infected patients

To determine the mRNA levels of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), apoptosis-associated speck like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infected patients. This study was conducted on 60 CHB patients and 60 healthy controls and the mRNA levels of AIM2, ASC and caspase-1 were examined in parallel with beta-actin (as housekeeping gene) using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Our results indicated that expression of ASC and caspase-1 but not AIM2 were significantly decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from CHB patients compared to healthy controls. According to our results, it is likely that CHB patients are unable to firmly express ASC and caspase-1 genes and in turn properly activate IL1β and IL-18 subsequent to hepatitis B virus infection. Thus, these results propose a mechanism which almost partially may describe a reasonable fact that why the infection is sustained in the CHB patients.