Glutathion Peroxidase and Nitric Oxide Activities in the Lymphocytes of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

We searched glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), and nitric oxide levels in the lymphocytes of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. For this purpose we measured intralymphocyte glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total nitrite levels (nitric oxide metabolites= NO) in 40 patients [10 healthy individuals selected as a control group (group I), 10 patients with acute HCV infection (group II), 10 patients with chronic HCV infection (group III) and 10 patients with chronic HCV infection who were treated with interferon alpha (3 million Ux 3/week) for 6 months (group IV)] in Turgut Özal Medical Center. We found GSH-Px activity to be 548.5 ± 46.96 U/mg, 382.65 ± 42.2 U/mg, 736.01 ± 57.47 U/mg, and 592.03 ± 56.74 U/mg in study groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p< 0.0001). Total nitrite level in lymphocytes was 25 µmol/dL, 23 µmol/dL, 13µmol/dL, and 23 µmol/dL in study groups, respectively. Nitric oxid levels were similar in groups I, II, and IV; but it was low in untreated patients with chronic HCV infection (group III) (p< 0.0001). In conclusion; intralymphocyte GSH-Px was lower in the patients with acute HCV infection, whereas nitric oxide metabolites were lower in the untreated patients with chronic HCV infection. Both GSH-Px and NO levels were found to be nearly normal, in the patients who received interferon therapy (group IV)