title: Soluble CD14 levels are increased and inversely correlated with the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: Because it was observed recently that yeast-derived recombinant HBsAg interacts in a lipopolysaccharide binding protein-dependent manner with CD14 expressed on human monocytes, we investigated whether HBsAg influences the serum levels of sCD14, lipopolysaccharide binding protein and C-reactive protein in hepatitis B patients. Samples from acute and chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients were tested. All analytes were measured using commercial assays. HBsAg was quantified using an NIBSC titrated standard. sCD14 levels were higher in chronic hepatitis B and C patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.0006 and P < 0.0001, respectively). In chronic hepatitis B patients an inverse correlation was found between sCD14 and HBsAg (P = 0.0309). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein and C-reactive protein levels were higher in acute hepatitis B patients than in control subjects (P = 0.0217 and P = 0.0034, respectively). In chronic hepatitis B and C, sCD14 and C-reactive protein levels were higher in cirrhotic than in non-cirrhotic patients (P = 0.0072 and P = 0.0223, respectively).
authors.affiliation: Ghent University Hospital, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steyaert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanlandschoot
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diepolder
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leroux-Roels
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein