Author/Authors :
Ajorloo, Mehdi Department of Virology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University , Bamdad, Taravat Department of Virology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University , Hashempour, Tayebeh Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center - Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Alborzi, Amir Mohammad Cellular and Molecular Gerash Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Science , Mozhgani, Hamid Reza Department of Virology - Faculty of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Asadi, Reyhane Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Haj-sheykholeslami, Arghavan Digestive Disease Research Center - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Merat, Shahin Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center - Digestive Diseases Research Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: The role of different viral proteins in the progression of the disease to cirrhosis is not completely understood. The ARFP/F protein is a newly described protein synthesized from the +1 or -2 reading frames of the core protein gene, which its function remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to detect specific antibodies to HCV-ARF/Core+1 protein in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients with HCV and investigate any possible association. METHODS: ARF/Core+1 recombinant proteins from HCV genotype 1a were expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we assessed the prevalence of anti-ARF/Core+1 antibodies in 50 cirrhotic and 50 non-cirrhotic hepatitis C patients.
RESULTS: All 50 cirrhotic patients were positive for anti-ARF/Core+1 antibody, while only 80% positive samples among non-cirrhotic patients were detected. The titer of anti-ARF/Core+1 antibody was also significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in non-cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSION: Compared to 80% positive samples among non-cirrhotic patients all 50 cirrhotic patients were positive for anti-ARF/Core+1 antibody and titer of anti-ARF/Core+1 antibody was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in non-cirrhotic. These results suggest that ARF/Core+1 protein is associated with cirrhosis. A possible causative association between ARF/Core+1 and cirrhosis as well as the mechanism of this association needs to be further investigated.
Keywords :
ARFP/F protein , cirrhotic , hepatitis C virus , non-cirrhotic
