Serum and tissue levels of transforming growth factor-B1 in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: correlation with steatosis, and fibrosis

ABSTRACT

Activation of hepatic stellate cells [HSC] and transforming growth factor-b [TGF-bl] signaling are one of the important events at the beginning of fibrosis. Steatosis is present in liver biopsy in approximately 50% of patients with hepatitis C and its association with stage of fibrosis has been reported. The aim of this work is to study the relation between TGF-beta 1, steatosis, and fibrosis and hepatitis C genotype 4. We studied 47 patients [33 males, 14 females, mean age 43.46 +/- 13.54 years] with chronic HCV infection. Serum TGF-beta 1 was determined in all participants. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in patients' sera by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]. Liver biopsies were taken to evaluate steatosis, fibrosis, and tissue level of TGF-pL. Serurn levels of TGF-B1 [p < 0.001] were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C patients compared with controls. Aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] [p < 0.001], were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C patients compared with controls. There was a significant difference between chronic hepatitis subgroups [as regard degree of steatosis] grading and staging [p< 0.001]. There was a significant correlation between steatosis grading and tissue level of TGF-Bl but not with serum level of TGF-B1. There was a significant correlation between fibrosis staging and tissue level of TGF-B1. Also, serum level of TGF-B1 was significantly correlated with advance of fibrosis. HCV-genotype 4 infection is associated with a significant higher serum level of TGF-B1 than those of normal subjects. We have confirmed that steatosis is associated with increased fibrosis and necroinflammation in chronic HCV biopsies