Soluble serum CD81 is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and correlates with alanine aminotransferase serum activity

Aim

Cellular CD81 is a well characterized hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry factor, while the relevance of soluble exosomal CD81 in HCV pathogenesis is poorly defined. We performed a case-control study to investigate whether soluble CD81 in the exosomal serum fraction is associated with HCV replication and inflammatory activity.

Patients and Methods

Four cohorts were investigated, patients with chronic hepatitis C (n = 37), patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal ALT levels (n = 24), patients with long term sustained virologic response (SVR, n = 7), and healthy volunteers (n = 23). Concentration of soluble CD81 was assessed semi-quantitatively after differential centrifugation ranging from 200 g to 100,000 g in the fifth centrifugation fraction by immunoblotting and densitometry.

Results

Soluble CD81 was increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.03) and cured patients (p = 0.017). Patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal ALT levels and patients with long term SVR had similar soluble CD81 levels as healthy controls (p>0.2). Overall, soluble CD81 levels were associated with ALT levels (r = 0.334, p = 0.016) and severe liver fibrosis (p = 0.027).

Conclusion

CD81 is increased in the exosomal serum fraction in patients with chronic hepatitis C and appears to be associated with inflammatory activity and severity of fibrosis.     

Elevation of serum thioredoxin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To evaluate the clinical significance of thioredoxin in diabetic patients, serum thioredoxin levels measured with a recently established sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit were compared with clinical laboratory data and complications in 174 patients with Type 2 diabetes. Thioredoxin levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients (mean value, 38 ng/ml) than in healthy controls (21 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). Fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c did not correlate with thioredoxin. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids levels were significantly higher in patients with higher thioredoxin levels (>or= 40 ng/ml) than in those with lower thioredoxin levels (< 40 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation both between thioredoxin and non-esterified fatty acids in patients with diet/exercise therapy (p < 0.01) and between thioredoxin and fasting immunoreactive insulin in those treated with diet/exercise or oral hypoglycemic agents (p < 0.05). Thioredoxin did not correlate with diabetic complications. In conclusion, serum thioredoxin levels may reflect the status of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetic patients.     

Effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism on serum folate but not vitamin B12 levels in patients with H-type hypertension

Molecular Biology Reports - Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a common complication in Chinese hypertensive patients and associated with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism,...     

维生素C和E合用对应激和非应激中华鳖幼鳖生长、肝脏维生素C和E以及血清皮质醇含量的影响

为探讨维生素C (VC)和维生素E (VE)联用对应激和非应激中华鳖幼鳖的生长、肝脏VC 和VE 以及血清皮质醇含量的影响 ,作者使用了 5组饵料 ,VC 和VE 的添加量依次为 0和 0mg/kg (对照组 )、 2 5 0和 5 0mg/kg (实验Ⅰ组 )、2 5 0 0和 5 0mg/kg (实验Ⅱ组 ) ;2 5 0和 2 5 0mg/kg (实验Ⅲ组 ) ;2 5 0 0和 2 5 0mg/kg(实验Ⅳ组 )。中华鳖幼鳖的生长、肝脏VC 和VE以及血清皮质醇分别通过特定生长率、高压液相色谱法和放免法来测定。结果实验Ⅰ -Ⅳ组中华鳖的特定生长率明显高于不加VC 和VE的对照组 ,但实验Ⅰ -Ⅳ组间没有明显不同。非应激中华鳖肝脏VC 和VE的含量随饵料中VC 和VE 含量的增加而明显升高 ,并且实验Ⅱ -Ⅳ组肝脏VC 和VE都明显高于对照组和实验Ⅰ组。酸应激后 ,对照组和实验组中华鳖肝脏VC 和VE都有下降的趋势 ,但无显著差异 ;应激后实验Ⅱ -Ⅳ组肝脏VC 和VE均明显高于对照组 ,实验Ⅳ组明显高于其它 4组。血清皮质醇的含量在实验Ⅰ -Ⅳ组间没有明显不同 ,实验Ⅰ -Ⅲ组与对照组相比虽有降低的趋势但没有变化 ,实验Ⅳ组则明显低于对照组。酸应激后 ,对照组血清皮质醇明显升高 ,其他 4组虽有升高的趋势 ,但没有明显变化。应激后实验Ⅰ -Ⅳ组血清皮质醇的含量均明显低于对照组 ,实验Ⅰ -Ⅳ组间没有明显     

The effect of cigarette smoking on vitamin C and vitamin E levels of gingival crevicular fluid

The purpose of this study was to assay the ascorbic acid and tocopherol levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of smokers and nonsmokers with clinically healthy gingiva. The comparison was determined between the area physically exposed to smoke and the controlateral area. All tested areas required to be free from periodontal diseases at a screening examination. 41 students (16 nonsmokers and 25 smokers) were enrolled in this study. GCF samples were collected in two regions: area of habitual cigarette placement and controlateral area. Areas sampled were at midbuccal and midlingual sites of all teeth 3, 5, 6, and 7. Ascorbic acid and tocopherol values of GCF were determined by HPLC. Smokers were found to have significant (p < 0.05) lower levels of vitamin C in comparison to nonsmokers in all regions tested. Mean GCF tocopherol concentration of smokers did not reveal significant differences between the two regions examined. The vitamin A levels revealed an unsignificant low value in smokers in comparison to control subjects. Tobacco smoke can be the cause of a gingival damage by decrease of vitamin C and A operating through a vasoconstriction and a reduction of the antioxidant properties.     

Ultracentrifugation of serum samples allows detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with occult hepatitis C

Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of patients with abnormal liver function tests of unknown origin who are anti-HCV and serum HCV RNA negative but who have HCV RNA in the liver has been described. As HCV replicates in the liver cells of these patients, it could be that the amount of circulating viral particles is under the detection limit of the most sensitive techniques. To prove this hypothesis, serum samples from 106 patients with occult HCV infection were analyzed. Two milliliters of serum was ultracentrifuged over a 10% sucrose cushion for 17 h at 100,000 x g(av), where av means average, and HCV RNA detection was performed by strand-specific real-time PCR. Out of the 106 patients, 62 (58.5%) had detectable serum HCV RNA levels after ultracentrifugation, with a median load of 70.5 copies/ml (range, 18 to 192). Iodixanol density gradient studies revealed that HCV RNA was positive at densities of 1.03 to 1.04 and from 1.08 to 1.19 g/ml, which were very similar to those found in the sera of patients with classical chronic HCV infection. Antigenomic HCV RNA was found in the livers of 56 of 62 (90.3%) patients with detectable serum HCV RNA levels after ultracentrifugation, compared to 27 of 44 (61.4%) negative patients (P < 0.001). No differences in the median loads of antigenomic HCV RNA between patients with an those without serum HCV RNA (4.5 x 10(4) [range, 7.9 x 10(2) to 1.0 x 10(6)] versus 2.3 x 10(4) [range, 4.0 x 10(2) to 2.2 x 10(5)]) were found. Alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, liver necroinflammatory activity, and fibrosis did not differ between both groups. In conclusion, HCV RNA can be detected in the sera of patients with occult HCV infection after circulating viral particles are concentrated by ultracentrifugation.     

Effect of vitamin E therapy on serum uric acid in DOCA-salt-treated rats

Uric acid is considered as an antioxidant in the blood. Despite its proposed protective properties, elevated plasma uric acid has been associated with hypertension in a variety of disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the increase of arterial blood pressure and the changes in serum uric acid, measured during the gradual development of experimental hypertension in deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-salt-treated rats. Blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff method, urinary and plasma uric acid was measured by autoanalyzer during the induction of hypertension in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week DOCA-salt-treated Sprague-Dawley rats. Vitamin E (200 mg/kg/day/gavage) was co-administered with DOCA-salt for 4 weeks. From the first week of DOCA-salt treatment, rats exhibited marked increases in blood pressure. DOCA-salt treatment also resulted in a significant increase in serum uric acid and a significant decrease in urinary uric acid at the end of the first week. These changes in serum and urinary uric acid remained until the 4th week of DOCA-salt treatment but blood pressure continued to increase throughout the study. Vitamin E treatment increased urinary excretion of uric acid and decreased blood pressure and serum uric acid in DOCA-salt-treated rats. These data suggest that enhanced serum uric acid may be a contributing factor to the onset of hypertension in DOCA-salt-treated rats. A uricosuric effect is suggested for vitamin E in the treatment of hypertension.     

Effect of simultaneous administration of vitamin C, L-cysteine and vitamin E on the melanogenesis

The effect of simultaneous administration of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), L-cystein (Cys) and vitamin E (tocopherol) on the melanogenesis in vivo and in vitro was studied. Forty-eight brownish guinea pigs were divided into 4 groups as follows: VC group, VC+Cys group, VC+Cys+VE group and control group. They were given these vitamins by oral administration every day. UV-B exposure (0.384 J/cm2) on their depleted back skin was done at the day 8, 10, 12, 15 17 and 19. After UV-B irradiation, vitamins were administrated further 3 weeks. The luminosity score was measured using a Color Reader CR-11 (Minolta, Co) and the numbers of DOPA-positive melanocytes of their back skin were counted. B16 melanoma cells were incubated with VC, N-acetyl cystein (NAC) and VE. After 4 days of incubation, cells were harvested. The melanin contents and the tyrosinase activities in cells were measured. The luminosity score in the VC+VE+Cys group was higher than those in the other groups. The numbers of DOPA-positive melanocytes of guinea pigs treated with VC, VE and Cys were significantly decreased compared with those in VC group. In B16 melanoma cells, simultaneous treatment of VC, VE and NAC was the most effective to decrease the melanin contents and to inhibit tyrosinase activity.     

High-dose oral vitamin C partially replenishes vitamin C levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes and low vitamin C levels but does not improve endothelial dysfunction or insulin resistance

Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes related to hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Nitric oxide-dependent vasodilator actions of insulin may augment glucose disposal. Thus endothelial dysfunction may worsen insulin resistance. Intra-arterial administration of vitamin C improves endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. In the present study, we investigated effects of high-dose oral vitamin C to alter endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes. Plasma vitamin C levels in 109 diabetic subjects were lower than healthy (36 +/- 2 microM) levels. Thirty-two diabetic subjects with low plasma vitamin C (<40 microM) were subsequently enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of vitamin C (800 mg/day for 4 wk). Insulin sensitivity (determined by glucose clamp) and forearm blood flow in response to ACh, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or insulin (determined by plethysmography) were assessed before and after 4 wk of treatment. In the placebo group (n = 17 subjects), plasma vitamin C (22 +/- 3 microM), fasting glucose (159 +/- 12 mg/dl), insulin (19 +/- 7 microU/ml), and SI(Clamp) [2.06 +/- 0.29 x 10(-4) dl x kg(-1) x min(-1)/(microU/ml)] did not change significantly after placebo treatment. In the vitamin C group (n = 15 subjects), basal plasma vitamin C (23 +/- 2 microM) increased to 48 +/- 6 microM (P < 0.01) after treatment, but this was significantly less than that expected for healthy subjects (>80 microM). No significant changes in fasting glucose (156 +/- 11 mg/dl), insulin (14 +/- 2 microU/ml), SI(Clamp) [2.71 +/- 0.46 x 10(-4) dl x kg(-1) x min(-1)/(microU/ml)], or forearm blood flow in response to ACh, SNP, or insulin were observed after vitamin C treatment. We conclude that high-dose oral vitamin C therapy, resulting in incomplete replenishment of vitamin C levels, is ineffective at improving endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes.     

In vivo effect of vitamin E on serum and tissue glycoprotein levels in perchloroethylene induced cytotoxicity

The antioxidant efficacy of vitamin E on Perchloroethylene (PER) induced cytotoxicity has been studied in rats. Feeding PER to rats for 42 days using sesame oil as vehicle alters total protein and protein bound carbohydrate components in liver and kidney of experimental animals. Supplementation of vitamin E prevented the changes observed in total protein and protein bound carbohydrate components of PER administered rats. Histopathological studies also show the effectiveness of vitamin E on PER administered rats in protecting the cellular architecture of liver and kidney from PER induced cytotoxicity.     

Influence of vitamin E and C supplementation on lipoprotein oxidation in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Because increased oxidation is an important feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and low concentrations of antioxidant vitamins C and E have been observed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients, supplementation with these antioxidants might delay the development of AD. Major targets for oxidation in brain are lipids and lipoproteins. We studied whether supplementation with antioxidative vitamins E and C can increase their concentrations not only in plasma but also in CSF, and as a consequence decrease the susceptibility of lipoproteins to in vitro oxidation. Two groups, each consisting of 10 patients with AD, were for 1 month supplemented daily with either a combination of 400 IU vitamin E and 1000 mg vitamin C, or 400 IU vitamin E alone. We found that supplementation with vitamin E and C significantly increased the concentrations of both vitamins in plasma and CSF. Importantly, the abnormally low concentrations of vitamin C were returned to normal level following treatment. As a consequence, susceptibility of CSF and plasma lipoproteins to in vitro oxidation was significantly decreased. In contrast, the supplementation with vitamin E alone significantly increased its CSF and plasma concentrations, but was unable to decrease the lipoprotein oxidizability. These findings document a superiority of a combined vitamin E + C supplementation over a vitamin E supplementation alone in AD and provide a biochemical basis for its use.