Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and soluble adhesion molecules as possible prognostic markers of the efficacy of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To explain the role of Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and soluble adhesion molecules in chronic hepatitis C during the treatment of interferon alpha (IFNalpha) 2 b and ribavirin (RBV).


METHODS
Concentrations of MCP-1, soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), sP-selectin, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL10 in serum were estimated in the group of 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFNalpha2 b and RBV in 0, 16, 32, 48 wk of the therapy.


RESULTS
In chronic hepatitis C, before and during the treatment, the serum levels of MCP-1 and sP-selectin in responders were similar to those of healthy subjects. In non-responders (NR), MCP-1 increased in the course of IFNalpha+RBV treatment, differences were statistically significant as compared to responders. MCP-1 correlated statistically with the activity of periportal inflammation (r = 0.35, P<0.05) but not with staging of liver fibrosis. sICAM-1 positively correlated with inflammatory activity and fibrosis in NR. sP-selectin did not correlate with histological findings in the liver. The MCP-1 correlated with the soluble form of sP-selectin concentrations (r = 6, P<0.001) and with IL-10 level in NR (r = 0.4, P<0.05). There was no correlation observed between the concentration of MCP-1 and sICAM-1, IL-6 during the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
MCP-1 concentration may be a prognostic marker of the efficacy of IFN+RBV therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Panasiuk
Anatol
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Bialystok, Zurawia Str., 14, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Prokopowicz
Danuta
D
Panasiuk
Bozena
B
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012995:Solubility
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019007:P-Selectin; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016753:Interleukin-10