title: Hepatitis C Virus and related changes in immunological parameters in non Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.
abstract: Viral hepatitis is a common and important problem in immunocompromised cancer patients. The present study was conducted to investigate changes in some cellular and humoral immunological parameters as a consequence of HCV infection in non Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (NHL). The study included 40 NHL patients: 20 anti-HCV antibody positive (Gr. I ), and 20 anti-HCV antibody negative (Gr.II ). In addition, forty non-cancer controls (NCCs) were included: 20 of them were anti-HCV antibody positive (Gr. III) and 20 anti-HCV antibody negative (Gr. IV). The studied immunological parameters included serum levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (s-TNFr) measured by ELISA, as well as assessment of T and B lymphocyte subsets by PAP immunostaining method. Mean IL-1 level (pg/ml) was significantly higher in Gr. 1 (14 +/- 6) and Gr. III (20 +/- 12) as compared to those in Gr. II (7 +/- 5) and Gr. IV (9 +/- 6). Mean IL-2 level (pg/ml) was also significantly higher in Gr. I (132 +/- 101) and Gr. III (135 +/- 59) compared to those in Gr. II (36 +/- 29) and Gr. IV (31 +/- 48). On the other hand, level of IL-6 showed no significant difference between groups. The mean level of sTNF-r, (ng/ml) was only significantly higher in Gr. I (2.9 +/- 1.7) when compared to that in Gr. IV (1.9 +/- 2.2). In group IV, the average percentage of CD3 (70 +/- 4%) and CD4 (44 +/- 5%) were significantly higher than in those of Gr. I (CD3 = 51 +/- 11%, CD4 = 30 +/- 12%), Gr. II (CD3 = 52 +/- 7%, CD4 = 30 +/- 8%), and Gr. III (CD3 = 52 +/- 9%, CD4 = 26 +/- 8%). From all the above immunological and virological features two main tips could be inferred: (1) HCV leads a mild course of infection in NCCs evidenced by normal ALT level in all but 20% of subjects, normal IL-6, sTNF-r, lower counts of CD4+ T cells and hence a mild hepatocellular injury, and (2) In the immunocompromised NHL patients the virus leads potentially more aggressive course as evidenced by higher viremia, as well as significant elevation in sTNF-r, and CD8+ depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Immunology unit, Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanaa M Alam
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: el-Din
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Mohammed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.forename: Hussien M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Khaled
authors.forename: M Abdel-Hamid
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thoraya
authors.forename: Sohair A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Eisa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C497867:CD22 protein, human; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D037102:Lectins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2