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Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide and is a leading cause of chronic liver disease, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Globally, it is estimated that roughly 170 million people (3% of the population) are infected with HCV. Over 80% of acutely infected individuals are unable to clear the virus, resulting in chronic infection and increased potential to develop cirrhosis, endstage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therapy for HCVrelated chronic hepatitis is limited, and a vaccine protecting against HCV infection is currently unavailable. The study aims to evaluate the Dendritic Cells functions in chronic infected HCV patients (who were treated with Interferon and Ribavirin) and in healthy control. The study participants included two groups of patients. The first group ( treated HCV patients) included 30 patients , 10 females and 20 males, aged 4 - 17 years , with chronic HCV infection who were defined on the basis of standard diagnostic criteria [positive for both anti-HCV antibody and HCV RNA for more than 6 months, and the serum ALT level greater than the upper limit of normal (40 U/L) and received weekly pegylated-INF-α2b at a dosage of 60 µg/m2 once a week subcutaneously, plus oral ribavirin (RBV) at a dosage of 15 mg/kg/day depending on the pretreatment body weight for 48 weeks . Fourteen out of 30 had failed IFN-based therapy as evidenced by persistent or inadequate reduction in HCV RNA during therapy(They are called non responders) while 16 out of 30 achieved sustained Summary 88 virologic response as evidenced by undetectable serum HCV RNA 6 months after treatment (They are called responders). The second (control group) included 30 healthy patients aged 5 - 16 years. The second group included 9 females and 21 males. The two groups divided according to age to a group from (4-10) years old and from (11-17) years old. All cases were subjected to measurement of IL 10 and INF γ level. Data were collected, coded and processed by statistical analysis (SPSS) statistical package version 13 on IBM compatible computer, and the results were put in tables and graphs. Our results showed that: 1. Both patients and controls were age and sex matched (P>0.05 for both). 2. The majority of HCV patients were asymptomatic. 3. Sex, age, viral load, CBC, liver enzymes, PC%, histopathological grade or stage, and bilirubin level do not affect dendritic cells production of IL10and IFN γ. 4. There was significant positive correlation between ALT and IL-10 level (P-value < 0.05). While there was no significant correlation as regards other patient’s laboratory and histopathological parameters. 5. IL10 found to increase in chronic HCV patients than control group therefore contribute to the high propensity of HCV to cause chronic infection. Summary 89 6. IFN γ found to decreases in treated chronic HCV patients than control group. 7. We found that IL-10 of DC origin plays a central role in the regulation of T-cell responses, with predominant suppressive effects that counteract the action. Increased production of IL-10 during HCV infection may therefore contribute to the high propensity of HCV to cause chronic infection, this last associated with weak HCV-specific Tcell responses. So, impaired dendritic cell (DC) function resulting in ineffective T cell priming leading to HCV persistence. Thus, re-activation of DC may be an important tool in fighting HCV infection. So, dendritic cells carry the potential to be a candidate antiviral therapy in HCV infection. This worth future in vitro (HCV replicon) and in vivo (animal) studies to prove this notion. We reached a conclusion that increased production of IL-10 during HCV infection may contribute to the high propensity of HCV to cause chronic infection. This finding represents the first step to prove the pivotal role of IL-10 suppression in treatment of HCV infection. We recommend that IL10 increase in chronic HCV patients than control group therefore contribute to the high propensity of HCV to cause chronic infection. So, we recommend a wide study to confirm this effect and the availability of using IL-10 inhibitors to restore DC function in chronic HCV infected patients. Thus, re-activation of DC may be an important tool in fighting HCV infection and vaccination. |