The Concentration of Telomeric Repeat Binding Factor 2 (TERF2) in Leukocyte Cells of Patients with Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a disease that attacks the organs of the human liver that causes inflammation that makes the liver function. Telomere length and telomerase activity in chronic liver disease and hepatocarcinoma correlate with disease severity. Telomeres are protected by her six shelterin proteins or telosome, namely TERF1/TRF1, TERF2/TRF2, POT1, TPP1, RAP1, and TIN2. TRF2 protein has an important role in regulating the molecular events that maintain telomere integrity. The objective of the research was to determine the concentration of TERF2 in leukocytes in patients with hepatitis. The research design method is descriptive with a case-control study involving 62 subjects. Blood samples were taken from patients with hepatitis from Klinik Pratama Prof. Qomariyah, which amounted to 32 people, including 8 males and 24 females (40–60 years). As a control, employees of YARSI University with the same age range, amounting to 24 people, including 20 men and 4 women. Measurements of TERF2 used the ELISA method. TERF2 protein concentrations in patients with hepatitis leukocytes were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Similarly, TERF2 levels between male patients with male controls and between female patients with female controls also showed significant differences in sufficient concentration (p < 0.05). Instead, the concentrations of TERF2 between patients with hepatitis men and women did not have a difference. The concentration of TERF2 in leucocyte patients with hepatitis showed a concentration higher than in healthy people, both men and women.