RESUMO
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver. Aim: This study aimed to assess serum human telomerase enzyme (hTERT) levels and their relation to the progression of liver disease. Also, it aimed to assess the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein on memory T-cells in HCV patients with or without HCC and the correlation between memory cell phenotype and the progression of the disease in the same patients. Methods: HTERT level in serum was assessed through relative quantitative RT-PCR. Flow cytometric analysis was used to assess T-cell responsiveness (as IFN- γ secretion) before and after stimulation with HCV core protein and the memory CD8+ cell phenotype using several differentiation markers. Results: HTERT was found to be increased in a stepwise manner upon comparing its level in controls, chronic hepatitis patients, cirrhotic patients, and HCC patients. T-cells showed a similar manner of stepwise decrease in response (decreased IFN- γ secretion) in HCC patients compared to HCV patients without HCC and controls. Also, late differentiated memory cells (CD8+, CD27-, CD28-, CD45RA+, and CCR7-) were depleted in HCC patients compared to HCV patients without HCC. Conclusion: These results suggest a negative correlation between hTERT and IFN- γ secretion by T-cells in HCV patients and that this relationship, along with the depletion of late differentiated memory cells, could help the progression of liver disease to HCC.
RESUMO
Ionizing radiation is a double-edged sword because of its benefits and risks to human health. Therefore, protecting human organs from harmful effects of radiation is an important concern of researchers. Kefir, as a good source of probiotics, received growing interest in protective medicine owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Thus, this study was planned to investigate the protective role of kefir against γ-radiation-induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty-two male rats were distributed in four groups: (I) control, (II) received Kefir orally (5 ml/kg body weight) for 28 days, (III) exposed to whole body γ-irradiation (6.5 Gy) to induce hepatotoxicity, and (IV) was pretreated with kefir for 21 days then exposed to γ-irradiation followed by 7 days of kefir treatment. At the end of the experiment, complete blood picture (CBC), liver function, and lipid profile were estimated. Furthermore, levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide content, and endogenous antioxidants, in addition to concentrations of copper, iron, and calcium were measured in liver tissue. Furthermore, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and relative gene expression of nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) were assessed. The results revealed that oral administration of kefir significantly reduced the radiation-induced hepatic histological alterations, hepatic function impairment, and dyslipidemia. Moreover, kefir notably ameliorated the state of oxidative stress and appeared to inhibit the induced inflammation. This study provides a possible counteracting role of kefir against hepatotoxicity induced γ-radiation. This can focus the benefit of kefir application as a prophylactic treatment to limit hepatic inflammation during radiotherapy.