Takashi Himoto1, Eiichiro Hirakawa1, Koji Fujita2, Teppei Sakamoto2, Takako Nomura2, Asahiro Morishita2, Hirohito Yoneyama2, Reiji Haba3, Tsutomu Masaki4. 1. Department of Medical Technology, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kagawa, Japan. 2. Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan. 3. Department of Diagnosis Pathology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan. 4. Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan himoto@chs.pref.kagawa.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the correlation between serum complement component 3 (C3) levels and metabolic and histological abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). METHODS: Obesity and insulin resistance were estimated by calculating body mass index (BMI) and the values of the homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), respectively. Severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by New Inuyama Classification and the classification proposed by Brunt and colleagues, respectively. The degree of hepatic C3 expression was examined, using an immunohistochemical procedure. RESULTS: Serum C3 levels were significantly correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR value, and serum triglyceride levels in CH-C patients. Histological analysis revealed that serum C3 levels were significantly elevated in proportion to the severity of hepatic steatosis in such patients. The serum C3 level tended to increase as the severity of hepatic fibrosis progressed. However, the degree of C3 expression in hepatocytes was not associated with serum C3 level among those patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the elevation of serum C3 levels may reflect obesity, insulin resistance, and/or hepatic steatosis in patients with CH-C, and that the increase in the synthesis of C3 may derive from the activation of cells other than hepatocytes in those patients.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the correlation between serum complement component 3 (C3) levels and metabolic and histological abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). METHODS:Obesity and insulin resistance were estimated by calculating body mass index (BMI) and the values of the homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), respectively. Severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by New Inuyama Classification and the classification proposed by Brunt and colleagues, respectively. The degree of hepatic C3 expression was examined, using an immunohistochemical procedure. RESULTS: Serum C3 levels were significantly correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR value, and serum triglyceride levels in CH-Cpatients. Histological analysis revealed that serum C3 levels were significantly elevated in proportion to the severity of hepatic steatosis in such patients. The serum C3 level tended to increase as the severity of hepatic fibrosis progressed. However, the degree of C3 expression in hepatocytes was not associated with serum C3 level among those patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the elevation of serum C3 levels may reflect obesity, insulin resistance, and/or hepatic steatosis in patients with CH-C, and that the increase in the synthesis of C3 may derive from the activation of cells other than hepatocytes in those patients.