Reviewer's report
Title:Bax Inhibitor-1 down-regulation in the progression of chronic liver diseases
Version: 2Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: giorgio soardo
Reviewer's report:
The submitted paper examines the expression levels of Bax and BI-1 (pro and
anti-apoptotic mediators) at the level of mRNA (via Real time PCR) and protein
(via Western blot analysis), in tissues samples from patients with chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC.
Major comments
The paper provides interesting observations about the role of the above
mediators in the different stages of liver disease. In particular the
down-regulation of BI-1 with liver damage progression offers new understanding
in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.
The study is well designed and the methods are appropriated and well described.
The results section is clear as is the Discussion that could, however, be
shortened.
Minor points
1. The hypothesis about the inter-relationship between HCV proteins and the
intracellular pathways, reported in Fig. n 5, looks nice but is not supported by the
data presented. I suggest it to be deleted.
2. Figure 1, that does not report significant differences, should be transformed in
a summarizing Table.
3. Since ALT levels are closely related to the progression and prognosis of
chronic liver damage, has a correlation between transaminases, Bax and BI-1
levels be looked for?
Reviewer's report
Title:Bax Inhibitor-1 down-regulation in the progression of chronic liver diseases
Version: 2Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: giorgio soardo
Reviewer's report:
The submitted paper examines the expression levels of Bax and BI-1 (pro and
anti-apoptotic mediators) at the level of mRNA (via Real time PCR) and protein
(via Western blot analysis), in tissues samples from patients with chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC.
Major comments
The paper provides interesting observations about the role of the above
mediators in the different stages of liver disease. In particular the
down-regulation of BI-1 with liver damage progression offers new understanding
in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.
The study is well designed and the methods are appropriated and well described.
The results section is clear as is the Discussion that could, however, be
shortened.
Minor points
1. The hypothesis about the inter-relationship between HCV proteins and the
intracellular pathways, reported in Fig. n 5, looks nice but is not supported by the
data presented. I suggest it to be deleted.
2. Figure 1, that does not report significant differences, should be transformed in
a summarizing Table.
3. Since ALT levels are closely related to the progression and prognosis of
chronic liver damage, has a correlation between transaminases, Bax and BI-1
levels be looked for?
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Bax Inhibitor-1 down-regulation in the progression of chronic liver diseases
Version: 2Date:2 February 2010
Reviewer: giorgio soardo
Reviewer's report:
The submitted paper examines the expression levels of Bax and BI-1 (pro and
anti-apoptotic mediators) at the level of mRNA (via Real time PCR) and protein
(via Western blot analysis), in tissues samples from patients with chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC.
Major comments
The paper provides interesting observations about the role of the above
mediators in the different stages of liver disease. In particular the
down-regulation of BI-1 with liver damage progression offers new understanding
in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.
The study is well designed and the methods are appropriated and well described.
The results section is clear as is the Discussion that could, however, be
shortened.
Minor points
1. The hypothesis about the inter-relationship between HCV proteins and the
intracellular pathways, reported in Fig. n 5, looks nice but is not supported by the
data presented. I suggest it to be deleted.
2. Figure 1, that does not report significant differences, should be transformed in
a summarizing Table.
3. Since ALT levels are closely related to the progression and prognosis of
chronic liver damage, has a correlation between transaminases, Bax and BI-1
levels be looked for?
assistant