Increased intrahepatic and circulating levels of endoglin, a TGF-β1 co-receptor, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: relationship to histological and serum markers of hepatic fibrosis

Endoglin, a transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 co-receptor, has been associated with renal and cutaneous fibrosis, as overexpression of this protein has been observed in biopsies from patients with glomerulosclerosis and scleroderma, respectively. Our aim was to evaluate whether endoglin may be associated with hepatic fibrosis featuring chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Fifty-two anti-HCV+ patients, five anti-HCV- patients and 27 healthy subjects were studied. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify the expression levels of endoglin and TGF-beta1 in liver biopsy samples, and serum concentrations of endoglin and hyaluronic acid were determined by enzyme-linke…

Increased circulating and intrahepatic T-cell-specific chemokines in chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the type of virological response to peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy

Summary Aims : To determine the serum and intrahepatic levels of T-helper-1-associated chemokines in patients with chronic hepatitis C before, during and after peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy and to search for correlations with baseline characteristics of hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease and type of therapeutic response. Methods : Serum chemokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and intrahepatic chemokine messenger RNA and protein levels were tested by ribonuclease protection assay and immunohistochemistry. Results : Serum and intrahepatic chemokine levels were elevated in all patients with chronic hepatitis C and showed a marked d…

Osteocondroma Gigante del Lóbulo Adiposo de Hoffa : (a propósito de un caso)

The authors present a case of osteocartilaginous metaplasia in the fat pad of the knee. They make a review of the literature and they expose the clinical and pathological findings.

Incresed circulating and intrahepatic T-cell-specific chemokines in chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the type of virological response to peginterferon plus ribavirin combination therapy