Potential Hepatoprotective Role of Galectin-3 during HCV Infection in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), one of the greatest causes of liver disease, is a frequent complication in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis. ESRD is defined as decreased glomerular filtration and also accompanied by impaired function of the immune system. Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin, involved in various biological processes including pathogenesis of chronic renal disease. The aim of our study was to estimate disease severity in ESRD HCV+ patients and analyze the serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-23, and IL-6; anti-HCV antibodies; and galectin-3. Also, we attempted to determine potential correlation between galectin-3 level and parameters of disease severity ALT and AST. Our results showed decreased levels of ALT and AST (p = 0.00), demonstrating less liver destruction in ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ patients. Increased levels of IL-6 (p = 0.03) implicate a hepatoprotective role of IL-6 in these patients. Also, level of galectin-3 (p = 0.00) in the serum of ESRD HCV+ patients was higher than that of HCV+ patients. This alteration was accompanied with negative correlation between galectin-3 and AST and ALT, respectively (p = 0.029; p = 0.033). The presence of increased systemic levels of IL-6 and Gal-3 in ESRD HCV+ patients may be an attempt to counteract or limit ongoing proinflammatory processes and to downregulate chronic inflammation, suggesting the new aspects of HCV infection in ESRD patients.

• Authors: Ruzica Lukic, Nevena Gajovic, Ivan Jovanovic, Milena Jurisevic, Zeljko Mijailovic, Veljko Maric, Biljana Popovska Jovicic, Nebojsa Arsenijevic
• Journal: Disease markers (Dis Markers) Vol. 2017 Pg. 6275987 ( 2017) ISSN: 1875-8630 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28487598 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Galectin 3
• Interleukins

Topics

• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Galectin 3 (blood)
• Hepatitis C (blood, complications, pathology)
• Humans
• Interleukins (blood)
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (blood, complications, pathology)
• Liver (pathology, virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged