title: [The detection of anti-nuclear antibody and IL-21 in patients infected with hepatitis C virus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the serum anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and study their impact on the liver function of HCV patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent(ELISA) assays were used to detect the serum ANA and IL-21 levels in 96 cases of HCV-IgG positive sera, as well as 30 cases of HCV-IgG negative sera. Hitachi 7600 biochemical analyzer was used to test the ALT, AST and ALB of all sera samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV patients have abnormal liver function significantly and their average IL-21 level was much lower than the control group. While the liver function of most ANA positive HCV patients was well-balanced. The IL-21 level of HCV patients with ALT < or = 40 U/L or ALT > 40 U/L were markedly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The production of ANA and IL-21 do help to control the progress of hepatitis and reduce the damage to liver cells in HCV patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Min-min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shang-bao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuan-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shu-wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21