'Serum cytokine levels as putative prognostic markers in the progression of chronic HCV hepatitis to cirrhosis

Study Results from S. Costantini and Colleagues in the Area of Hepatitis C Virus Published

By NewsRx.com

Research findings, 'Serum cytokine levels as putative prognostic markers in the progression of chronic HCV hepatitis to cirrhosis,' are discussed in a new report. According to recent research from Italy, "Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can present as an acute manifestation, and can lead to severe complications such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It represents a global health problem because there is no vaccine currently available."
"Cytokines play an important role in viral clearance, infection control, inflammation, regeneration and fibrosis, and also are implicated in the pathological processes occurring in the liver during viral infection. Immunological markers of chronic HCV hepatitis progression as compared to cirrhosis and HCC would be extremely useful, particularly for distinguishing between the molecules produced during HCV-induced chronic inflammation and those secreted during cirrhosis and HCC.

In this work, we evaluated the serum levels of several cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in 30 patients affected by chronic HCV (HC), 30 patients affected by HCV-related cirrhosis (LC) and 20 healthy, control subjects. We used a multiplex biometric ELISA-based immunoassay in order to identify molecules that might be useful for monitoring the progression of HCV to liver cirrhosis and, possibly, to cancer. Our results show that some pro-inflammatory molecules are significantly up-regulated, and play a role as immunological markers in the intermediate steps towards liver cancer, and that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a specific marker of liver cirrhosis," wrote S. Costantini and colleagues (see also Hepatitis C Virus).

The researchers concluded: "Finally, these data will be used to define a cytokinome profile, which might prove useful for studies involving the transition of chronic inflammation to neoplastic processes."

Costantini and colleagues published their study in European Cytokine Network (Serum cytokine levels as putative prognostic markers in the progression of chronic HCV hepatitis to cirrhosis. European Cytokine Network, 2010;21(4):251-6).

For additional information, contact S. Costantini, Centro Ricerche Oncologiche di Mercogliano Fiorentino Lo Vuolo, Via Ammiraglio Bianco, Mercogliano (AV), Italy.
Publisher contact information for the journal European Cytokine Network is: John Libbey Eurotext Ltd., 127 Avenue de La Republique, 92120 Montrouge, France.
Keywords: Country:Italy, Biological Products, Cancer Vaccines, Cytokines, Digestive System Diseases, Fibrosis, Flaviviridae Infections, Gastroenterology, HCV, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatitis Viruses, Hepatology, Human Hepatitis, Infectious Disease, Inflammation, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Diseases, Oncology, RNA Viruses, Viral Vaccines, Virology.

This article was prepared by Vaccine Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Vaccine Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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