Korean J Hepatol > Volume 12(4); 2006 > Article
The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2006;12(4): 507-514.
Clinical Significances of Serum Soluble Fas and Soluble Fas Ligand in Chronic Hepatitis B
Eun Jung Jun, M.D., Joon-Yeol Han, M.D., and Hee Sik Sun, M.D.1
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea, Sun Hee Sik Medical Clinic1, Seoul, Korea
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims
Apoptosis via Fas/FasL system is thought to be involved in the development of hepatocyte death in viral hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis C, sFas/sFasL system was reported to control liver injury induced by Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis. To determine the role of sFas/sFasL system in chronic hepatitis B, we analyzed serum sFas/sFasL in 58 HBV patients and 29 healthy controls. Methods: HBV patients were categorized into two groups; normal ALT (≤40 IU/L) and elevated ALT (>40 IU/ L). Serum sFas/sFasL levels in HBV patients were measured by ELISA and was compared with those in 29 healthy controls. Serum ALT levels, histological activity, and Fas/FasL expression of liver were compared. Results: Chronic hepatitis B patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Serum sFasL levels, however, were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (P<0.01). Patients with moderate to marked degree of inflammation and fibrosis had significantly higher serum sFas levels than those in healthy controls (P<0.05). Serum sFasL levels had no correlation with the hepatic histological activity. Serum sFas/sFasL levels also had no significant correlation with the Fas/FasL expression of liver. Conclusions: Serum sFas/sFasL levels play a possible role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B. These results suggest that serum sFas levels might serve as a marker for estimating the degree of hepatic histological activity. (Korean J Hepatol 2006;12:507-514)
KeyWords: Hepatitis B, chronic; Histological activity; Serum soluble Fas; Serum soluble Fas ligand

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