IN-VITRO SECRETION OF ANTI-GOR PROTEIN AND ANTI-HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Background/Aims: Anti-GOR antibodies may reflect hepatitis C virus (HC V)-related autoimmunity or crossreactivity with HCV core antigen. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of anti-GOR antibod ies. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 35 patients with HCV and 48 controls and cultured for 8 days. Th e in vitro antibody secretion by PBMC was determined using specific en zyme-linked immunosorbent assays and recombinant immunoblot assay. Res ults: In 22 of 35 patients with HCV (62.9%), PBMCs secreted anti-c22-3 or anti-c33c antibodies. However, in 3 of 48 controls (6.2%), PBMCs s ecreted anti-c33c antibodies alone. A significant in vitro anti-GOR re sponse was found in 13 of 35 patients (37.1%) with HCV in relation to 4 of 48 controls (8.3%). In 12 of these patients (92.3%), anti-GOR wer e found in vitro and in serum. Two patients with HCV produced in vitro anti-GOR but not anti-c22-3 antibodies. Regarding disease activity, i n vitro anti-GOR-positive patients with HCV had significantly higher a lanine aminotransferase levels (108.8 +/- 17.8 U/L vs. 64.5 +/- 7.6 U/ L; P < 0.01) and more frequent signs of chronic active hepatitis (10 o f 13 [76.9%] vs. 10 of 22 [45.5%]) than patients with HCV without in v itro anti-GOR response. Conclusions:The humoral anti-GOR response in v itro is closely related to HCV infection and disease activity. Anti-GO R and anti-HCV core antibodies are regulated independently. It is like ly that anti-GOR may reflect an HCV-associated autoimmune phenomenon.