Fas/Fas Ligand Mediated Apoptosis in Chronic Hepatitis C

Chang, U Im; Han, Joon Yeol; Kim, Jin Il; Choi, Jong Young; Jo, Se Hyun; Han, Nam Ik; Yoon, Seung Kew; Yang, Jin Mo; Ahn, Byung Min; Kim, Jae Kwang; Lee, Young Sok; Chung, Kyu Won; Sun, Hee Sik; Jung, Ji Han; Kang, Chang Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In chronic hepatitis C, the Fas/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis is involved in the hepatic injury. The soluble forms of Fas and Fas ligand have been detected in serum and shown to inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis. In the present study, we evaluated the relationships between the serum level of soluble Fas/Fas ligand and their histological and biochemical activities to elucidate the role of Fas system in pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Liver biopsy samples were graded according to the Knodell's Histologic Activity Index and immunohistochemically stained for Fas and Fas ligand. Serum soluble Fas and Fas ligand levels of chronic hepatitis C patients were compared with those of control group. These levels were compared with histological activities, ALT levels and Fas expression grades. RESULTS: Serum soluble Fas levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C were higher than those in the control group, although it is not statistically significant. Soluble Fas level in patients with moderate and marked intralobular inflammation were higher significantly than those in control group. There was a positive relationship between the grade of Fas expression and HAI score. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the possibility that the concentration of soluble Fas is associated with severity of intralobular inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis C.