Thiol-disulfide balance and total oxidant-antioxidant status in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Objective: Increasing evidences suggest that oxidative stress is closely related to the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis (DTDH) and total oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with HCV infection. Methods: Levels of serum total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide (DS), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI; TOS/TAS ratio) as oxidative stress markers were determined in 162 individuals, including 74 patients with HCV infection and 88 non-HCV controls. Results: The NT, TT levels and NT/TT ratio were significantly lower and DS level, DS/NT and DS/TT ratios were significantly higher in HCV group compared to the control group. The TOS and OSI values were significantly higher and the TAS level was significantly lower in the HCV group than in the control group. No significant correlations were found between oxidative stress markers and albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin levels in patients with HCV infection. A negative correlation was found only between OSI and albumin. Conclusion: These results indicate that patients with HCV infection are vulnerable to oxidative stress and have disturbed status of oxidant and antioxidant. What's knownOxidative stress is associated with pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.Thiols are oxidized by oxidant radicals and form disulfide bonds. Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis is an important indicator used to evaluate the presence and intensity of oxidative stress.Abnormal dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis plays a role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. What's newThis study is the first report of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in HCV-infected patients.Thiol/disulfide homeostasis is disturbed and shifts to the disulfide side in patients with HCV infection. TOS and OSI were higher and TAS was lower in HCV-infected patients compared to healthy controls.This study shows that patients with HCV infection are vulnerable to oxidative stress and have disturbed status of oxidant-antioxidant.