BACKGROUND/AIMS: In chronic hepatitis C, the expression of Fas antigen on hepatocytes is upregulated and Fas ligand expression is detected on liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells. Thus Fas antigen/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis is thought to be involved in hepatic injury in chronic hepatitis C. The soluble form of Fas antigen has been detected in serum and shown to inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis. The present study was done to evaluate the relationship of serum soluble Fas antigen levels with disease activity. METHODS: Serum soluble Fas antigen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 68 chronic hepatitis C patients and compared with those in normal volunteers, chronic hepatitis B patients and autoimmune hepatitis patients. These levels were compared with histological activity, ALT levels, HCV-RNA titer and Fas expression on hepatocytes. RESULTS: Serum soluble Fas antigen levels in chronic hepatitis C patients (3.24+/-1.55 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in normal volunteers (1.70+/-1.01 ng/ml) (p<0.01). They showed no difference from those in chronic hepatitis B or autoimmune hepatitis patients. Histologically, soluble Fas antigen levels showed correlation with the levels of liver inflammation (p<0.01). However, no relationship was observed between serum soluble Fas antigen and serum ALT levels or HCV-RNA titer. Serum soluble Fas antigen levels showed correlation with the levels of Fas antigen expression in liver tissue (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that serum soluble Fas antigen may reflect the expression levels of Fas antigen on hepatocytes and the severity of liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In chronic hepatitis C, the expression of Fas antigen on hepatocytes is upregulated and Fas ligand expression is detected on liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells. Thus Fas antigen/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis is thought to be involved in hepatic injury in chronic hepatitis C. The soluble form of Fas antigen has been detected in serum and shown to inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis. The present study was done to evaluate the relationship of serum soluble Fas antigen levels with disease activity. METHODS: Serum soluble Fas antigen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 68 chronic hepatitis Cpatients and compared with those in normal volunteers, chronic hepatitis Bpatients and autoimmune hepatitispatients. These levels were compared with histological activity, ALT levels, HCV-RNA titer and Fas expression on hepatocytes. RESULTS: Serum soluble Fas antigen levels in chronic hepatitis Cpatients (3.24+/-1.55 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in normal volunteers (1.70+/-1.01 ng/ml) (p<0.01). They showed no difference from those in chronic hepatitis B or autoimmune hepatitispatients. Histologically, soluble Fas antigen levels showed correlation with the levels of liver inflammation (p<0.01). However, no relationship was observed between serum soluble Fas antigen and serum ALT levels or HCV-RNA titer. Serum soluble Fas antigen levels showed correlation with the levels of Fas antigen expression in liver tissue (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that serum soluble Fas antigen may reflect the expression levels of Fas antigen on hepatocytes and the severity of liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis C.
Authors: Nicholas A Shackel; Peter H McGuinness; Catherine A Abbott; Mark D Gorrell; Geoffrey W McCaughan Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Christina M Martin; Jeffrey A Welge; Norah J Shire; Mohamed T Shata; Kenneth E Sherman; Jason T Blackard Journal: Cytokine Date: 2009-07-21 Impact factor: 3.861
Authors: Jae Young Jang; Seong-Jun Kim; Eun Kyung Cho; Soung Won Jeong; Eui Ju Park; Woong Cheul Lee; Sae Hwan Lee; Sang Gyune Kim; Young Seok Kim; Hong Soo Kim; Boo Sung Kim; Wenyu Lin; Raymond T Chung Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-06-13 Impact factor: 3.240