IMMUNOLOGICAL SHIFTS IN HCV INFECTION: ENHANCED LIVER BIOMARKERS, CD56BRIGHT NK CELLS AND IMPAIRED CYTOTOXICITY IN CD16DIM SUBSET
Main Article Content
Keywords
Natural Killer Cells, CD56Bright, CD16Dim Liver Biomarkers, Hepatitis C
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is chronic, asymptomatic, inflammatory, progressive, and slow-moving.
Objectives: The objective of the study were distribution of acute and chronic infections, treatment outcomes, immune cell levels, viral load, and gender-related disparities in liver enzyme levels.
Methodology: The study employed the Abbott PCR apparatus for real-time thermocycling, the MINDRAY BA-88A Semi-Automatic Clinical Chemistry Analyzer, and flow cytometry to analyze samples from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infected patients, with a specific emphasis on evaluating CD56 and CD16 markers on Natural Killer (NK) cells.
Results: This study findings highlighted 87.5% of patients exhibited liver cirrhosis, a severe condition linked to liver failure, while 12.5% had hepatocellular carcinoma. Out of 150 patients 52% had acute HCV infection, 10% had chronic infection, and 38% endured treatment. CD56+ NK cell levels averaged 21±4, with males at 22±6 and females at 18±4, suggesting gender-related differences. CD16+ NK cells averaged 9±4 overall, with males at 8±2 and females at 12±4. Viral load ranged from 62,000-65,000IU/mL (41.33%) to 310,000-418,000IU/mL (7.33%). Genotype 3a was most prevalent (51.70%), while 1a, 2a, and 3b constituted 10.80%, 13.80%, and 17.10%, respectively. Gender disparities were noted in ALT (males: 127±8, females: 113±2), AST (males: 131±4, females: 117±1), and GGT (males: 62±3, females: 49±2) levels.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the liver cirrhosis as the predominant condition in HCV-infected patients, indicating substantial liver damage due to HCV infection. The study also emphasized the potential of HCV treatment in mitigating liver cancer risk.
References
2. BILBEISI, E., HAMID, A., ABO KHOSA, S. M., TALEB, M. H. & EL AFIFI, A. M. J. F. I. N. 2023. Assessment Of Serum, Dietary Zinc Levels, And Other Risk Factors During The Third Trimester Among Pregnant Women With And Without Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Case-Control Study. 10, 1155529.
3. Chuaypen, N., Khlaiphuengsin, A., Prasoppokakorn, T., Susantitaphong, P., Prasithsirikul, W., Avihingsanon, A., Tangkijvanich, P. & Praditpornsilpa, K. J. B. I. D. 2022. Prevalence And Genotype Distribution Of Hepatitis C Virus Within Hemodialysis Units In Thailand: Role Of HCV Core Antigen In The Assessment Of Viremia. 22, 79.
4. D’ambrosio, R., Degasperi, E., Anolli, M. P., Fanetti, I., Borghi, M., Soffredini, R., Iavarone, M., Tosetti, G., Perbellini, R. & Sangiovanni, A. J. J. O. H. 2022. Incidence Of Liver-And Non-Liver-Related Outcomes In Patients With HCV-Cirrhosis After SVR. 76, 302-310.
5. Domovitz, T., Ayoub, S., Werbner, M., Alter, J., Izhaki Tavor, L., Yahalom-Ronen, Y., Tikhonov, E., Meirson, T., Maman, Y. & Paran, N. J. M. S. 2022. Hcv Infection Increases The Expression Of ACE2 Receptor, Leading To Enhanced Entry Of Both HCV And SARS-Cov-2 Into Hepatocytes And A Coinfection State. 10, E01150-22.
6. Fang, F., Xie, S., Chen, M., Li, Y., Yue, J., Ma, J., Shu, X., He, Y., Xiao, W., Tian, Z. J. C. & Immunology, M. 2022. Advances In NK Cell Production. 19, 460-481.
7. Hayes, C. N., Imamura, M., Tanaka, J. & Chayama, K. J. L. I. 2022. Road To Elimination Of HCV: Clinical Challenges In HCV Management. 42, 1935-1944.
8. KHAN, A. H. J. P. B. J. 2022. Liver Function Tests In Hepatitis C Patients Of Local Population Of Lahore: Lfts In HEP-C Patients. 12-16.
9. Lucchese, A., Di Stasio, D., Romano, A., Fiori, F., De Felice, G. P., Lajolo, C., Serpico, R., Cecchetti, F. & Petruzzi, M. J. J. O. C. M. 2022. Correlation Between Oral Lichen Planus And Viral Infections Other Than HCV: A Systematic Review. 11, 5487.
10. Mcleod, A., Hutchinson, S. J., Weir, A., Barclay, S., Schofield, J., Frew, C. G., Goldberg, D. J., Heydtmann, M., Wilson-Davies, E. J. E. & Infection 2022. Liver Function Tests In Primary Care Provide A Key Opportunity To Diagnose And Engage Patients With Hepatitis C. 150.
11. Shaz, S., Ullah, N. & Rafique, I. J. G. J. C. V. 2019. Prevalence Of Hepatitis B And C In District Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. 4, 8-18.
12. Tembhare, P. R., Chatterjee, G., Chaturvedi, A., Dasgupta, N., Khanka, T., Verma, S., Ghogale, S. G., Deshpande, N., Girase, K. & Sengar, M. J. F. I. O. 2022. Critical Role Of Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping In The Diagnosis, Subtyping, And Staging Of T-Cell/Nk-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma In Real-World Practice: A Study Of 232 Cases From A Tertiary Cancer Center In India. 12, 779230.
13. Uzair, B., Abid, S., Saleem, A. & Bibi, K. J. C. C. R. I. Comparison Of Hcv Genotyping Methodologies (Real-Time Pcr And Conventional Pcr). 1322.
14. Wang, W., Zhao, J., Hao, C., Hu, S., Chen, C., Cao, Y., Xu, Z., Guo, J., Xu, L. & Sun, M. J. A. M. 2022. The development of chiral nanoparticles to target NK cells and CD8+ T cells for cancer immunotherapy. 34, 2109354.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Awais Khan
Department of Innovative Technology of Biomedical Engineering & Medical Devices, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taiwan.
Mirza Ameer Faizan Ali
Assistant Professor, Pathology at Al-Aleem Medical College, Lahore - Pakistan
Bushra Iftikhar
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry department at Azra Naheed Medical College Lahore - Pakistan
Azka Rizvi
Medical Technologist at Department of Microbiology, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Center, Lahore - Pakistan
Nargis Aman
Assistant Professor, Nazar College of Pharmacy, Dukson Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad - Pakistan
Shanza Rafique Malik
Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur - Pakistan
Sarwat Moon
Indus Hospital and Health Network, Lahore - Pakistan
Aamna Shah
Department of Pharmacy, Women Institute of Learning and Rehabilitation Sciences, Abbottabad - Pakistan
Khaleel Ullah
Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat - Pakistan
Mazhar Ali Khan
Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra - Pakistan