engleski

Immunological Dynamics in HCV Chronic-Infected Patients Associated with Direct- Acting Antiviral Treatment

Chronic HCV infection (CHC) has been associated with inflammatory liver disease, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular mechanisms of immunopathogenesis of CHC and the role of complex biological response modulator interactions have not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the immunological dynamics on the serum concentrations of cytokines and growth factors associated with inflammation in HCV chronic- infected patients which are treatment with direct- acting antiviral drugs and compare with controls. Serum concentrations of 12 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13, IL-2, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL- 17F, IL-4 i IL-22) and 13 growth factors (Angiopoietin-2, EGF, EPO, FGF-basic, G-CSF, GM- CSF, HGF, M-CSF, PDGF- AA, PDGF-BB, SCF, TGF- α, VEGF) were analysed in 56 CHC before and after sustained virological response (SVR) and compared with 15 controls by using bead- based flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed using R. Unpaired comparisons were performed with Mann- Whitney test. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Statistically significant difference between the control group and the patients in the initial stage of infection was observed for IL-10, IL-13, IL-22, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and TNF-α, while statistically significant difference between the control group and patients after the achievement of SVR was observed for IL- 10, IL-13, IL-2, IL-22, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and TNF- α. Furthermore, statistically significant difference between the control group and the initial stage of infection was observed for Angiopoietin-2, HGF and SCF, while a statistically significant difference between the control group and after achieving SVR was observed in for Angiopoietin-2, EGF, HGF and SCF. Differences in immunological dynamics of serum biomarkes in HCV patients and controls are significant in order to detect changes which are suggestive of progressive involvement in the hepatic tissue. Serum biomarker levels prior and after DAA treatment indicate that HCV chronic-infected patients had an impaired immune response compared with controls.

chronic hepatitis C ; cytokines ; growth factors ; direct-acting antivirals

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