The Open Tropical Medicine Journal

2009, 2 : 1-7
Published online 2009 February 26. DOI: 10.2174/1874315300902010001
Publisher ID: TOTMJ-2-1

The Role of Myeloperoxidase in Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Associated Liver Cirrhosis

I. W. Bekheet , M. E. Madkour , N. Abdel Ghaffar , M. M.F. Nosseir , M. M. Moussa , R. A. Ibraheim and M. E. Ateya
Pathology Department. Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, P.O. Box 30 Imbaba, Giza 12411, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important enzyme that found in neutrophils and involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The aim of the current study was to clarify the potential role of MPO in oxidative stress and liver fibrosis associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study was conducted on 90 subjects, 10 normal controls and 80 patients having HCV infection classified into chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis (CHC) (50 cases) and CHC with cirrhosis (LC) (30 cases). Myeloperoxidase was assessed in plasma by ELISA technique and in liver tissue by immunohistochemistry. Malondialdehye (MDA), as a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress was also measured in plasma by spectrophotometric assay. Results revealed significant increase of both plasma and hepatic tissue MPO in cirrhotic patients compared to either controls or CHC patients (p<0.05). Plasma and tissue MPO showed significant direct correlation with liver aminotransferases (ALT and AST), MDA and stage of hepatic fibrosis. Regression analysis revealed that both plasma and tissue MPO are independent determinant for MDA and stage of hepatic fibrosis. The results incriminate MPO in oxidative stress that causes tissue damage in chronic HCV patients and the subsequent development of hepatic cirrhosis.

Keywords:

Myeloperoxidase, oxidative stress, chronic hepatitis C.