[The detection of anti-nuclear antibody and IL-21 in patients infected with hepatitis C virus].
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.
Zou
Min
M
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Li
Min-min
MM
Huang
Shang-bao
SB
Li
Xiao-juan
XJ
Zhou
Yuan-ping
YP
Liu
Shu-wen
SW
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
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21