Inflammatory cytokines and S-100b protein in patients with hepatitis C infection and cryoglobulinemias.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a predictive role for the protein S-100b and serum circulating levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with and without mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC).


METHODS
Sixty chronically HCV-infected patients were divided into two groups: 30 with and 30 without MC. Patients with MC presented detectable mixed cryoglobulins and clinical weakness, purpura and arthralgias. HCV-RNA and genotype, serum levels of cryoglobulins, principal hepatic indexes and levels of IL-6, IL-18 and S-100b protein were evaluated. Twenty uninfected healthy subjects were a control group to evaluate serum levels of S-100b protein.


RESULTS
IL-6 and IL-18 serum levels were higher in the MC+ group than the MC- group (8.7 +/- 4.5 pg/mL versus 4.6 +/- 2.3 pg/mL P < 0.0001 and 743.5 +/- 128.2 pg/mL versus 578.5 +/- 296.5 pg/mL P < 0.001 respectively). S-100b serum levels were higher in HCV+ with MC (0.23 +/- 0.07 microg/L) respect to HCV+ patients without MC (0.17 +/- 0.05 microg/L, P < 0.0001) and were statistically higher than in the control group (0.08 +/- 0.03 microg/L, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). A positive correlation was shown between serum levels of S-100b protein and levels of cryoglobulins in the group of HCV+ patients MC+ (r=0.72 and P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV patients with MC have a worse inflammatory condition than those without MC. Moreover, S-100b protein seems to be a sensitive marker of endothelial and tissue damage in chronic HCV hepatitis with cryoglobulinemia.
Falasca
Katia
K
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging. University G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Mancino
Paola
P
Ucciferri
Claudio
C
Dalessandro
Margherita
M
Zingariello
Pompea
P
Lattanzio
Franca M
FM
Petrarca
Claudia
C
Martinotti
Stefano
S
Pizzigallo
Eligio
E
Conti
Pio
P
Vecchiet
Jacopo
J
D000328:Adult; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins