Soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecules - 1 and T- helper and suppressor subsets in chronic hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus [HCV], is a major cause of post transfusion hepatitis worldwide, leading to chronic liver disease. This work aimed at studying the influence of chronic hepatitis C infection on the serum level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-l [sICAM-1], and to study the pattern of two lymphocyte subsets, the helper I inducer [CD4.+] and the cytotoxic I suppressor [CD8+] T cells, in those patients. The study comprised 35 subjects classified into two groups group I included 20 patients with chronic HCV infection [15 males and 5 females], their ages ranged from 26 to 45 years. Group II included 15 healthy controls age and sex matched with the patients group [Diagnosis of HCV infection was done by detection of HCV antibodies by 2[nd] generation ELISA and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]]. All patients and controls were subjected to the following. investigations Measurement of serum level of slCAM-1 by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay [ELISA technique], immunophenotyping of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes by two colour immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies using flowcytometric analysis, C.B.C. and liver function tests.The mean serum level of slCAM-1 was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients than in normal subjects, with a significant positive correlation between serum level of sICAM-1 correlated to AST and ALT liver enzymes and percentage of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between percentage of CD4+ T helper cells and sICAM-1 serum level. The absolute lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the patients group than in the control group. The mean percentage of CD4+ T helper cells and the CD4+ T CD8+ ratio were lower in the patient group compared to the control group while the mean percentage of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells was significantly increased in the patient group than the healthy controls.From this study we can conclude that chronic HCV infection is accompanied by increased serum level of slCAM-1, increased number of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in peripheral blood together with a decrease in CD4+ T helper cells and CD4+ T CD8+ ratio. This altered pattern in patients with chronic HCV infection could be an explanation for defective immune mechanism responsible for the chronicity of the disease, in chronic HCV patients. The results of this study suggests also that increased levels of slCAM-1 may be a valuable clinical tool in chronic hepatitis C, monitoring the severity of inflammation of liver cells and as an early detector of relapse of viral hepatitis in those patients, which deserves prospective studies