Soluble CD30 serum level in HCV-positive chronic active hepatitis: A surrogate marker of disease activity?
In the present study, high levels of CD30s, a glycoprotein preferentially expressed and released by T lymphocytes producing Th(2)-type cytokines, were seen in the sera of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and a correlation with histological activity of the disease was found. CD30s levels were assayed in the sera of 29 HCV RNA-positive patients with histologically proven chronic active hepatitis and in 30 healthy blood donors. Thirteen of 29 (45%) HCV patients had CD30s serum levels above the normal range (>20 U/ml). Mean CD30s serum levels were significantly higher in HCV patients than in controls (P<0.0005). A positive correlation was found between serum CD30s levels and both the histological activity index (r=0.59, P=0.001) and ALT serum levels (r=0.5; P=0.006). The raised CD30s level found in more severe HCV liver disease indirectly suggests activation and expansion of Th(2)cells. CD30s levels could represent a useful surrogate marker of activity in chronic HCV infections.
Foschi
F G
FG
Semeiotica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Cardioangiologia, Epatologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. fgfoschi@tin.it
Gramenzi
A
A
Castelli
E
E
Cursaro
C
C
Pagani
S
S
Margotti
M
M
D'Errico
A
A
Andreone
P
P
Stefanini
G F
GF
Bernardi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D000410:Alanine Transaminase