Caracterização de moléculas de adesão celular e perfil de citocinas em doadores de sangue infectados com o vírus da Hepatite C

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a major public health problem today, with approximately 170 million people infected worldwide. HCV is a highly immunogenic infectious agent leading to the development of an intense humoral and cellular response. However, about 80% of patients progress to a chronic disease may develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. The HCV infection of cells rapidly triggers intracellular signaling events leading to cytokine production and changes in the pattern of expression of cell adhesion molecules, providing a barrier to replication and viral spread. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression of adhesion molecules and cytokine profile in peripheral blood from blood donors of the Foundation HEMOAM HCV positive. For this, we analyzed blood samples from 50 individuals who were reactive in serological screening test for HCV, and as a negative control, we analyzed 53 samples of healthy blood donors. For analysis of expression of cell adhesion molecules in leukocytes, the samples were stained with monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantification of serum cytokine Th1, Th2 and Treg profile was performed by ELISA. The prevalence of HCV infection in the population of blood donors of the Foundation HEMOAM living in Manaus, from August/2009 to July/2010, was 0.1% and was greater prevalent in the group of first-time blood donors, compared to repeat blood donors. It was observed that the expression of cell adhesion molecules on leukocytes in peripheral blood is influenced by HCV infection, resulting in changes in the pattern of leukocyte recruitment to the liver and thus alters the course of the disease. There is evidence that the immune response against HCV in the population of blood donors, provide a toward Th1 profile, characterized by a high concentration of IL-12 and IL-10 in peripheral blood. The concentration of cytokines in peripheral blood from donors infected with HCV correlated with the expression pattern of cell adhesion molecules of leukocytes. However, our results reinforce the importance of the relationship between cell adhesion molecules, cytokine production and HCV infection.