Transforming Growth Factor ß1 and Nitric Oxide as Biomarkers in chronic hepatitis C patients

Acute infection with hepatitis C virus is uneventful in most of the cases but runs a chronic course in an estimated 70% of patients.Certain HCV proteins such as core and NS5A can induce derangement of lipid metabolism or alter signal transduction of infected hepatocytes which lead to production of reactive oxygen radicals and profibrogenic mediators in particular TGF-ß1.This study is carried out to show the value of TGF-ß1 and NO as biomarkers in this disease and to assess their relation to its different complications as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma .They showed a significant elevation of TGF-ß1 and NO in groups 2a, 2b and 2c as compared to control group. Also, there was a significant increase of its level in groups 2b and 2c as compared to group 2a and in group 2c as compared to group 2b.Concerning alpha fetoprotein, our result recorded a significant elevation of serum alpha fetoprotein in groups 2b and 2c as compared to control group and in group 2c as compared to groups 2 a and 2b, while there was non significant increase of it in group 2b as compared to group 2a or in group 2a as compared to control group.Regarding serum ALT & AST levels, our study showed a significant elevation of them in groups 2a, 2b and 2c as compared to control group. While, there was non significant increase of it in groups 2b and 2c as compared to 2a group or in group 2c as compared to group 2b. From the above mentioned results, we concluded that measurement of TGF- ß1 and Nitric oxide biomarkers in patients with chronic hepatitis C may be useful in follow up and can be used in the prediction of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.