ABSTRACT
Aim: The objective of this work is to find out whether there is a relation between the expression of TLR4 and fibrosis progression in chronic HCV patients
Background: Toll-like Receptor 4 [TLR4] is a pattern recognition receptor whose activation results in the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines
Methods: Fifty patients with chronic HCV were included. They were divided into group A: 40 patients [F1-F4] and group B [control group] which included ten patients [F0] based on fibroscan value. All patients were exposed to clinical and laboratory evaluations preliminary to antiviral therapy, assessment of TLR4 mRNA by Real Time- PCR
Results: Twenty-eight males and 22 females with a mean age 28.9 +/- 6.1 years. The mean TLR4 expression is 11.2 +/- 7.4 folds, TLR4 expression in F0 group is 2.8 +/- 1.9, in F1 group 4.8 +/- 1.5, F2 group 10.2 +/- 2.5, F3 group 16.8 +/- 1.5 and in F4 21.3 +/- 3.6 folds [p<0.001]. TLR4 showed a positive correlation with age, fibrosis stage, HCV RNA, serum transaminases, total bilirubin and prothrombin time, a negative correlation with platelet count and serum albumin. Fibrosis progression was independently associated with TLR4 expression [beta=0. 648, P<0.0001], RNA [beta= 0.160, P =0.001] and platelet count [beta= -0.248, P = 0.004]
Conclusion: The expression of TLR4 is highly correlated with the fibrosis progression; TLR4 may be a potential target for drugs to limit the progression of fibrosis
ABSTRACT
Forty of eighty mice [10 each group] were infected with S. mansoni cercariae and sacrificed at 3 weeks [G-A], 6 weeks [G-B], 12 weeks [G-C] and 16 weeks [G-D] post infection [P.I]. The other forty mice were used as control groups of ten mice each. There were highly significant difference between egg counts after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of infection compared to 6 weeks P.I. The maximum egg count and mature eggs were in 6[th] week P.I while dead eggs reached the peak at 16[th] weeks P.I. Liver egg counts showed maximum followed by intestinal and then, stool egg counts. A highly significant differences in hydroxy-proline, TGF-Bland DL-4 of infected than in controls and their peak at 16 weeks P.I. A significant difference in the EFN-gamma in the infected than in controls with peak occurred at 6 weeks P.I. and declined after that reaching a low level at 16 weeks P.I. A highly significant positive correlation was between TGF-Bland IL4 and significant negative correlation between IFN- gamma and both IL4 and TGF-B1. A highly significant and significant negative correlation between TGF-B1 and egg count at 12 and 16 weeks P.I respectively. Negative correlation was between IL-4 and egg count at 16 weeks P.I. But, significant positive correlation was between IFN- gamma with the egg count at 16 weeks P.I. A significant negative correlation was between TGF-B1 and oogram at 6 and 16 weeks P.I, but highly significant positivity was between IFN- gamma and oogram at 16 weeks P.I. A significant negative correlation was between IL-4 and oogram at 16 weeks P.I. A significant positive correlation was between levels of hydroxyproline and TGF-B1 at 12 and 16 weeks P.I. Highly significant negative correlation between hydroxyproline and IFN- gamma was at 12 weeks P.I with significant and highly significant positive correlation between hydroxyproline and IL4 at 12 and 16 weeks-P.I