title: Selected apoptotic markers in serum of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In chronic viral hepatitis C, hepatocytes inflammation, necrosis and apoptosis occur. To evaluate hepatocyte apoptotic rate, a serum concentration of proapoptotic FaS protein and its ligand (FaS/FaSL) as well tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and antiapoptotic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) may be used. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatic apoptosis rate in patients with hepatitis virus C infection and its correlations with the degree of liver inflammation and staging, biochemical tests, viral load and the duration of the infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 adults (30 chronic hepatitis C patients and 30 controls) were included into the study. Serum levels of FaS/FaSL, TNFalpha and HGF were evaluated using the ELISA method. The results were correlated with viral load, biochemical tests, as well ultrasonographic and histopathological (grading, staging) examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNF-alpha level in HCV-infected patients was significantly higher than in the controls (11.0 +/- 19.3 pg/ml vs. 3.3 +/- 2.8 pg/ml, p = 0.04). FaS/ FaSL and HGF did not differ significantly in both groups. TNF-alpha level was higher in patients with low staging (fibrosis F-0) than in those with higher staging (F-1, F-2, F-3)--according to the Batts-Ludwig scale. Other markers (FaS/FaSL and HGF) did not differ in groups with variant staging. No significant differences were observed in relation to grading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of FaSIFaSL, TNF-alpha and HGF does not allow for the assessment about apoptotic rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Explanation of this problem need follow-up studies on larger groups with the use of more complex methods.
authors.forename: Mikołaj Krzysztof
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Głowacki
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cieśla
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cibor
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Owczarek
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiliński
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiliński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor