A study on the HIV RNA and CD4 cell levels among patients with AIDS and hepatitis C / 预防医学

Objective To learn the HIV RNA and CD4 cell levels as well as their variations among AIDS patients with hepatitis C,and to provide suggestions for early treatment.Methods A total of 80 AIDS patients with chronic hepatitis C were selected as the case group and 80 patients with AIDS only were selected as the control group.Comparison of HIV RNA and HCV RNA levels and T lymphocyte subsets levels between the two groups were conducted.Results HIV RNA level of the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group (5.35 ±1 .29 loglocopies/mL vs 4.81 ±1 .1 5 loglocopies/mL).HIV RNA level was positively correlated to HCV RNA level in the case group (r =0.372,P <0.05). No significant correlations were observed between CD +4 and CD +4 /CD +8 cell levels and HCV RNA levels (r =-1 .1 43 and -0.1 1 9,P >0.05),while CD +4 and CD +4 /CD +8 cell levels were negatively correlated to HIV RNA levels in the case group as well as in the control group (r =-0.533、-0.41 4、-0.433 and -0.536,P <0.05 ).Conclusion The replication of HIV RNA is more active and the T lymphocyte subsets damage is more obvious among AIDS patients with chronic hepatitis C.Early treatment of chronic hepatitis C in AIDS patients is highly recommended to ensure immune reconstitution and decrease HIV RNA level.

Expression of TGF-beta1/Smad protein in rat liver fibrosis model and the role of IFN-gamma / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the impact of IFN-gamma on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: fibrosis model group, IFN-gamma treatment group. Experimental liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4. After 12-week-treatment, serum hyalurnic acid and TGF-beta1 was examined, histopathological changes and degrees of fibrosis were observed by optical microscopy. Meanwhile, the expression of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by using computerized image analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Pathological observation of hepatic specimens: histological examination showed that there were significant difference between normal group and fibrosis model group by comparing with the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis (P < 0.05). And the difference between fibrosis model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05). (2) Changes of the hepatic fibrosis index (serum HA and TGF-beta1): the levels of serum HA, TGF-beta1 in fibrosis model group were higher than IFN-gamma treatment groups (P < 0.05). (3) Changes of gene protein levels about TGF-beta1/Smad: the expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 in rat hepatic tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry techniques. The expressions of the three items in model group were higher than normal group (P < 0.01). The difference between model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05);</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IFN-gamma treatment group had significant results on treating experimental hepatic fibrosis. By the way of inhibiting expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I, Smad2/3, IFN-gamma treatment group exerted its anti-fibrosis effect.</p>

Dynamic expression of TGF-beta1/Smad protein in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and its significance in rats / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic expression of TGF-beta1/Smad protein in rats with liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), to study mechanism of TGF-beta1/Smad signaling and the relationship between its transduction and liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal control group and model group. Experimental liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4. After six weeks and nine weeks, histopathological changes and degrees of fibrosis were observed by optical microscopy. Meanwhile, the expression of TGF-beta1, TP3R-I, Smad2/3 and Smad7 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Pathological observation of hepatic specimens: hepatic tissue of model group rat had inflammation and fibrosis in different degrees. By comparing with the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis model groups were more severe than normal control group (P < 0.05). (2) Changes of protein levels about TGF-beta1/Smad: the expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, Smad2/3 and Smad7 in rat hepatic tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry techniques. The expressions of the four items in model group were higher than those of normal control group (P < 0.01). In fibrosis model group, there exist considerable positive correlations among expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, Smad2/3, Smad7 and degrees of fibrosis in livers (P < 0.05 or 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is close relation between the level of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, Smad2/3, Smad7 and the different liver fibrosis grades due to CCl4. The up regulation of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I, Smad2/3 and Smad7 in liver tissue is involved in the progression of hepatic fibrosis.</p>

Level of serum and liver tissue TGF-beta1 in patients with liver fibrosis due to chronic hepatitis B / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the level of serum and liver tissue TGF-beta1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B, to study their relation to liver fibrosis and gain the evidence for diagnosis of liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The liver fibrosis grades (S0-S4) of 131 cases with chronic HBV infection were diagnosed after liver biopsy. Serum TGF-beta1 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the semiquantitative analysis was applied after detecting the expression of TGF-beta1 in liver tissue with immunohistochemistry. Their relations to liver fibrosis were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum and tissue level of TGF-beta1 increased significantly with the development of fibrosis, and the same result was obtained between themselves (P < 0.01). There was very significant difference for serum level of TGF-beta1 among the groups with different fibrosis grades (P < 0.01). Serum levels of TGF-beta1 were decreased significantly comparing the Group S0 or S1 to S4 (P < 0.005). There were significant difference for serum level of TGF-beta1 among S0 and the others (P < 0.005). And there was significant difference between S1 and S3 (P < 0.005). The expression level of TGF-beta1 in liver tissue has no significant difference between group S3 and S4 (P > 0.05). However, the differences were significantly among the other comparisons (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is close relation between the level of TGF-beta1 and the different liver fibrosis grades due to chronic hepatitis B. The serum level of TGF-beta1 is a potential noninvasive maker for diagnosis of liver fibrosis.</p>