title: Biological and clinical significance of endotoxemia in the course of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides (LPS), major components of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, once released from the bacterial outer membrane bind to specific receptors and, in particular, to a membrane-bound receptor, the CD14 (mCD14) and the toll-like receptor 4 present on monocytes/ macrophages. In turn, LPS-activated monocytes/ macrophages release in the host tissue an array of so-called proinflammatory cytokines and, among them, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-12 are the major mediators. Before therapy (To) and at the end of 6-month interferon (IFN)-alpha/Ribavirin (RIB) treatment (T6), circulating endotoxin levels were measured in responder and non responder HCV+ patients. At T0, 57% of the non responders were endotoxin-positive and had, on average, 54 pg/ml of plasma LPS while in 50% of the responder patients endotoxin were found with an average of 29 pg/ml. At T6, in responders LPS were no longer detectable, while in 42% of the non responders LPS were found (average levels 45 pg/ml). In terms of serum cytokine concentration, at T6 IFN-gamma levels when compared to those detected at T0 were increased in both endotoxin-positive and endotoxin-negative patients. However, at T6 IL-10 concentration was significantly increased only in the group of endotoxin-negative subjects (responder patients), in comparison to T0 values. The origin of endotoxemia in HCV+ patients seems to be multifactorial, likely depending on impaired phagocytic functions and reduced T-cell mediated antibacterial activity. In these patients, however, one cannot exclude the passage of LPS from the gut flora to the blood stream, owing a condition of altered intestinal permeability. At the same time, a less efficient detoxification of enteric bacterial antigens at the hepatic level should be taken into consideration. Finally, novel therapeutic attempts aimed to neutralize LPS in the host are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Immunopathology, Scientific Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caradonna
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mastronardi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magrone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cozzolongo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuppone
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Manghisi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caccavo
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jirillo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amati
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012254:Ribavirin; D007781:Lactoferrin