ABSTRACT
Background: the induction of apoptosis for the virus-infected cells is an important host defense mechanism against invading pathogens. Activated T cells express Fas receptor; virus-infected hepatocytes bear the receptor as well. Both immune mediated reaction and cytopathic effects of HCV may be involved in pathogenesis. The apoptosis in immune or non-immune tissue and the mechanism of liver damage in chronic HCV infection remains uncertain
Aim: to assess the relationship between serum concentrations of adhesion and apoptotic-related soluble structures in patients affected by Hepatitis C Virus [HCV]. Investigate serum levels of soluble Fas antigen [sFas], soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 [sICAM-1]; study their roles in pathogenesis and liver cell damage in chronic hepatitis C patients
Patients and methods: sixty chronic hepatitis C patients [78.33% male vs. 22.66% female] and twenty controls recruited, they were positive for anti-HCV, and HCV-RNA by quantitative PCR. Liver biopsies were fixed and examination. Patients were classified into Group A [n=23] Chronic Hepatitis C minimal activity [0-3], Group B [n=19] mild activity [4 -8], and Group C [n=13] moderate and severe activity [9-13, and >13] depending on Histological Activity Index [HAI] score, then, assessment of hepatic [periportal, intra-lobular and total] was done. Patients were categorized into cirrhotic group [n=18] and non-cirrhotic group [n=42]. Tissue Fas [tFas] was assessed using anti-Fas antibody. Serum Soluble Fas [sFas] and [sICAM-1] were measured using EIA kits
Result: sFas was significantly increased in patients subgroups compared to controls [p<0.001] and in comparing cirrhotic to no cirrhotic [p<0.01]. tFas showed rising significance with disease activity [p<0.01].Both studied parameters of Fas were not correlated with ALT level [r=0.04, 0.03]. sICAM-1 revealed significant correlation of albumin levels in Group B [mild activity], with sFas antigen in non-cirrhotic patients group correlation not yet reach significance. No correlation was found between viral load, Fas parameters and sICAM [r=0.19, 0.16 and 0.21] respectively, while correlated with HAI [r=0.91, 0.96] respectively, expect in patients group A of [minimal activity]. In addition, sFas correlated significantly with tFas expect group A
Conclusion: Fas studied parameters can reflect severity of liver inflammation and play a crucial role in HCV infection. Equally, Soluble Fas and sICAM-1may serve as serological indicator of active inflammation. Strategies to prevent Fas-mediated apoptosis during inflammation might offer exciting therapeutic potential