Elevated serum soluble Fas levels in the various stages of hepatitis C virus-induced liver disease.
We aimed to determine serum soluble Fas antigen (sFas) levels at various stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver disease, and investigate correlations between serum sFas levels and clinical, biochemical and pathologic features. Sixty-five patients were categorized into five groups: 1, chronic active hepatitis C, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HCV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive; 2, responders to interferon + ribavirin therapy; 3, cirrhosis; 4, chronic hepatitis C, normal ALT, HVC-PCR positive; and 5, sustained responders. Group 6 comprised 15 control individuals. Serum sFas levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant differences in serum sFas levels were found between the following groups: 1 and 2; 1 and 3; 1 and 4; 1 and 6; and 3 and 6. Serum sFas levels did not correlate with ALT, histological activity or HCV-PCR positivity within group 1. Serum sFas levels appear to increase in advanced stages of HCV-induced liver disease, as a result of host-related immunological factors.
Division of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. er72@hotmail.com
E
E
Ozaslan
A
A
Kiliçarslan
H
H
Simşek
G
G
Tatar
S
S
Kirazli
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D019014:fas Receptor; D000410:Alanine Transaminase