Human platelet antigens (HPA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma infected by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a chronic disease of viral etiology which agent is the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The disease still constitutes today a public health problem, especially by your potential to progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In respect to disease progression, approximately 20% of individuals with the chronic form of the disease develop cirrhosis and 1-4 % hepatocellular carcinoma. Although HCV target cells are hepatocytes, studies showed the presence of viral RNA in other cell types such as T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that HCV can be transported in the bloodstream of an individual infected by platelets. Human platelets express several types of antigens on its surface, among which the HPA or human platelet antigens. There are five most studied systems called antigens HPA -1, -2, -3, -4 and -5, and the polymorphism of some HPA systems has been associated with other diseases, which are not directly related to platelets. Studies have shown that genetic factors may play an important role in the response to treatment and progression of the disease caused by HCV, however, no study has yet reported any association between the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and polymorphisms of the HPA system. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate a possible association of the polymorphism of HPA -1 and the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with HCV.