Potential Hepatoprotective Role of Galectin-3 during HCV Infection in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Abstract EN

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), one of the greatest causes of liver disease, is a frequent complication in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis.

ESRD is defined as decreased glomerular filtration and also accompanied by impaired function of the immune system.

Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin, involved in various biological processes including pathogenesis of chronic renal disease.

The aim of our study was to estimate disease severity in ESRD HCV+ patients and analyze the serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-23, and IL-6; anti-HCV antibodies; and galectin-3.

Also, we attempted to determine potential correlation between galectin-3 level and parameters of disease severity ALT and AST.

Our results showed decreased levels of ALT and AST (p=0.00), demonstrating less liver destruction in ESRD HCV+ patients in comparison to HCV+ patients.

Increased levels of IL-6 (p=0.03) implicate a hepatoprotective role of IL-6 in these patients.

Also, level of galectin-3 (p=0.00) in the serum of ESRD HCV+ patients was higher than that of HCV+ patients.

This alteration was accompanied with negative correlation between galectin-3 and AST and ALT, respectively (p=0.029; p=0.033).

The presence of increased systemic levels of IL-6 and Gal-3 in ESRD HCV+ patients may be an attempt to counteract or limit ongoing proinflammatory processes and to downregulate chronic inflammation, suggesting the new aspects of HCV infection in ESRD patients.