In subjects with antibody to hepatitis C virus a high serum level of interleukin-2 soluble receptor suggests activity of liver disease.
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus without apparent cytopathic effects, and hepatocellular damage in chronic infection is generally believed to be immune-mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Activated T cells release the soluble form of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (sIL-2R) and its concentration is correlated with the degree of lymphocyte activation. We measured sIL-2R in 69 subjects: 24 healthy repeat blood donors (group I), 17 HCV carriers without liver damage (group II) and 28 patients with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis (group III). There was no significant difference between sIL-2R levels in patients of group I (36.5 +/- 14.6 U ml-1) and group II (46.8 +/- 17.4 U ml-1), and the levels for both of these groups were significantly lower than those observed in the patients with active HCV, group III (176.9 +/- 59.5 U ml-1). Hence, among HCV-infected subjects (HCV RNA positive) with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, the plasma levels of sIL-2R are normal, but, in patients (HCV RNA positive) with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis there are increased plasma levels of sIL-2R. We conclude that in HCV infection high levels of sIL-2R are related to activity of the disease rather than to virus replication. In patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, the sIL-2R concentration may be a useful marker of disease activity.
Gessoni
G
G
Transfusional Centre, Chioggia Community Hospital, Venice, Italy.
Valverde
S
S
Giacomini
A
A
Antico
F
F
Manoni
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2