SOLUBLE FORMS OF MEMBRANOUS ANTIGENS IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C

Abstract. The level of soluble forms (s–forms) of membranous antigenes can reflect the cellular immunity state and play a role of diagnostic and predictive markers in various diseases. Quantitative detection of the serum levels of sFas (CD95), sCD38 and sHLA–DR was carried out in 135 patients with acute and chronic hepatitis C. The concentrations of soluble antigens were defined in a sandwich ELISA with the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to sFas, sCD38 and sHLA–DR antigens. The received results have been compared to the virological, clinical and morphological data. The increase in the levels of the investigated antigenes has been registered both in acute and chronic courses of the disease in comparison with healthy donors. It has been established, that sFas and sHLA–DR levels directly correlated with accumulation of virus proteins in a liver cells and with the first genotype of HCV (1a and 1b), were considerably reduced in liver fibrosis, but were not connected with a degree of necroinflammatory changes in liver tissue and aminotransferase level. The sCD38 levels increased to the greater degree in comparison with sFas and sHLA–DR both in acute and in chronic hepatitis, it increased in high histologic activity of hepatitis and in the first genotype of HCV, but it was reduced in active expression of NS4A protein in liver cells. It was shown, that low sCD38 level in patients with acute hepatitis C can be favorable prognostic sign for the disease outcome. On the basis of the received results it is possible to conclude, that soluble forms of membranous antigenes play the important role in pathogenesis of hepatitis C. (Med. Immunol., 2005, vol.7, № 1, pp. 33540)

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