In subjects with antibody to hepatitis C virus a high serum level of interleukin-2 soluble receptor suggests activity of liver disease |
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Authors: | G Gessoni S Valverde A Giacomini F Antico & F Manoni |
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Institution: | Transfusional Centre and ,;Clinical Pathology Service, Chioggia Community Hospital, Venice, Italy |
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Abstract: | The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus without apparent cytopathic effects, and hepatocellular damage in chronic infection is generally believed to be immune-mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Activated T cells release the soluble form of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (sIL-2R) and its concentration is correlated with the degree of lymphocyte activation. We measured sIL-2R in 69 subjects: 24 healthy repeat blood donors (group I), 17 HCV carriers without liver damage (group II) and 28 patients with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis (group III). There was no significant difference between sIL-2R levels in patients of group I (36.5±14.6Uml–1) and group II (46.8±17.4Uml–1), and the levels for both of these groups were significantly lower than those observed in the patients with active HCV, group III (176.9±59.5Uml–1). Hence, among HCV-infected subjects (HCV RNA positive) with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, the plasma levels of sIL-2R are normal, but, in patients (HCV RNA positive) with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis there are increased plasma levels of sIL-2R. We conclude that in HCV infection high levels of sIL-2R are related to activity of the disease rather than to virus replication. In patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, the sIL-2R concentration may be a useful marker of disease activity. |
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Keywords: | anti-HCV chronic active hepatitis HCV healthy carriers HCV RNA sIL-2R |
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