Study of lymphocyte phenotyping of peripheral blood in HCV-infected patients and its relation to autoimmunity

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is associated with immune mediated abnormalities and B- cell lymphoproliferation. CD81 was identified as an HCV receptor on B-lymphocytes. The antigen CD19 is associated with CD81 B-cells at different stages of maturation. Expression of CD5 lymphocytes was associated with non- HCV related autoimmune disorders. Therefore we try to evaluate the clinical significance of B-lymphocyte phenotyping of peripheral blood [PB] in HCV- infected patients [age range 10-16 Years] with and without the autoimmune markers rheumatoid factor [RF], antinuclear antibody [ANA], and anti-double stranded DNA [Anti ds DNA], where PBCD5, CD19 and CD81 expression were determined in 20 EDTA blood samples of healthy persons [group I] and 40 blood samples of HCV- infected persons [25 with negative autoimmune markers [group IIa] and 15 with positive autoimmune markers [group IIb]]. Age [10-16 years]. Flow cytometry was used to estimate percentage of antigen expression of CD5, CD19 and CD81 over B-lymphocytes. Indicated that CD5 expression was significantly increased in group IIb than group IIa and group I [28 +/- 3.2%, 25 +/- 4.2% and 13.3 +/- 5.8% respectively p < 0.0001]. The same increase occurs in the mean values for CD19 [group I 3.5 +/- 1.6%, group IIa 14 +/- 2.5% and group IIb 23 +/- 3.1% p< 0.0001], while CD81 mean values were group I 50 +/- 28%, group IIa 78 +/- 16% and group IIb 92 +/- 12%. Increased expression of CD5, CD19 and CD81 on B-lymphocytes in HCV- infected patients with higher values with positive autoimmune markers, suggests the high clinical significance of peripheral blood B-lymphocyte phenotyping as a predictive and diagnostic tool for autoimmune serconversion in HCV-infected patients. Also it can be a prognostic guide for successful treatment or highlight for new antiviral and autoimmune treatment

Antibodies to chlamydia trachohomatis heat shock protein 60 [chlamydial HSP 60] and chlamysia trachomatis major outer membrane proten [MOMP] in women with tubal factor infertility

Most of the acute infections of Chlamydia trachomatis are asymptomatic and are thus left untreated. In some women repeated or persistent C. trachomatis infection leads to scarring of the fallopian tube tissue and subsequent infertility because of occlusion of the tubes. Screening for C trachomatis specific antibodies is mandatory in. diagnosing asymptomatic tubal factor infertility [TFI], particularly because it has been shown that C trachomatis is rarely isolated from the upper genital tract and clinical diagnosis requires invasive procedures not routinely available in general practice. C. trachomatis has immunodominant proteins such as major outer membrane protein [MOMP] and Chlamydial heat shock protein6o [chlamydial hsp60] that most of the host's immune response is directed at. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between, antibodies to C. trachomatis-specific IgG and chlamydial hsp60 in women with TFI. This study was done on 45 women diagnosed as having TFI by means of hysterosalpingogram [HSG] and laparoscopy, and 31 wives of male factor infertility patients with documented patent tubes by hysterosalpingogram, as a control group. Their age ranged from 19 to 35 years. Antibodies to C. trachomatis-specific IgG were more prevalent in younger women [<25 years old] than older women [>25 years old]. 77% versus 47% in TFI group, and 37% versus 27% in control group. Antibodies to C. trachomatis specific IgG were present in 29 [64%] of 45 women with tubal infertility compared with 10 [32%] of 31 control women. The difference was statistically significant [P=0, 0019]. antibodies to chlamydial hsp60 were significantly higher in TFI patients [28 of 45; 62%] than controls [6 of 31; 20%]. The difference was satistica1ly significant [P 0, 0002], Using the Spearman rank order correlation test, the antibodies chlamydial hsp6o had a highly significant correlation to C. trachomatis specific IgG antibodies in TFI patients [rs 0.53, P<0.001] and in controls [rs= 0.54, P<0.001]. In conclusion, Antibodies to chlamydial hsp60 and C. trachomatis-specific IgG are strongly associated with TFI a when used in combination at initial infertility evaluation, they would provide a rapid non-interventive means of diagnosing tubal factor infertility