title: Characterization of metalloproteinases, oxidative status and inflammation levels in the different stages of fibrosis in HCV patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at searching noninvasive markers of the transition from mild to severe fibrosis stage in HCV patients undergoing hepatic fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients affected by chronic HCV vs. twenty healthy donors were evaluated for the serum levels of several circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), TRAIL and β-NGF by multiplex biometric ELISA based immunoassay and anti- and pro-oxidant status (d-ROMs, BAP and NO) using a Diacron automated method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV patients displayed increased expression levels of MMP-8, MMP-9, TRAIL and β-NGF, and an imbalance between pro- and antioxidant status, that contribute to liver fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the determination of these parameters represents a reliable and easily applicable method, these parameters are suggested as serum surrogate markers for HCV patients in the routine clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: INT "G. Pascale", CROM-Oncology Research Centre of Mercogliano, Mercogliano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guerriero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorice
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; C502240:NGF protein, human; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C488762:MMP8 protein, human; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9