Louagie H K, Brouwer J T, Delanghe J R, De Buyzere M L, Leroux-Roels G G
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University Hospital Gent, Belgium.
J Hepatol. 1996 Jul;25(1):10-4. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8278(96)80321-7.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Haptoglobin (Hp) is a hemoglobin-binding acute phase protein characterized by a genetic polymorphism due to the existence of two different alleles encoding for the alpha chain of the protein. Three phenotypes have been described: Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1 and Hp 2-2. The latter two forms are known to possess immunoglobulin-like properties and play a role in the immune response. Recently, it has been shown that in subjects suffering from hepatitis C, serum Hp concentrations were lower than in the reference population. In the present study we examined whether the haptoglobin phenotype distribution in chronic HCV patients was different from the reference population. We also looked for possible relationships between Hp phenotypes and hepatitis C virus types and response to interferon alpha therapy. Moreover, Hp concentrations were determined.
The study population consisted of 239 Caucasian patients with proven hepatitis C. Hp phenotypes were determined using starch gel electrophoresis of hemoglobin-supplemented serum, followed by peroxidase staining. Serum Hp concentrations were assayed with an immunonephelometric method. Hepatitis C virus was genotyped and classified according to an internationally accepted system. Two hundred and twenty healthy Caucasian blood-donors served as the reference population.
In the reference population, 35 individuals (15.9%) had Hp 1-1, 106 persons (48.2%) had Hp 2-1 and 79 had Hp 2-2 (35.9%), resulting in an Hp 1 allele frequency of 0.400, which is in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Hp phenotype distributions and Hp allele frequencies in the chronic hepatitis C virus patient group differed significantly from those obtained in the reference population. In the patient population, 59 individuals (24.7%) had Hp 1-1, 112 persons (46.9%) had Hp 2-1 and 68 had Hp 2-2 (28.5%). This resulted in an Hp 1 allele frequency of 0.481, which is in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No statistically significant differences were found between Hp phenotype distribution and hepatitis C virus types or response to interferon alpha therapy.
The observed shift in Hp phenotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C may point to a role of Hp in the natural evolution of hepatitis C.
背景/目的：触珠蛋白（Hp）是一种结合血红蛋白的急性期蛋白，由于编码该蛋白α链的两个不同等位基因的存在，其具有遗传多态性。已描述了三种表型：Hp 1-1、Hp 2-1和Hp 2-2。已知后两种形式具有免疫球蛋白样特性，并在免疫反应中发挥作用。最近研究表明，丙型肝炎患者的血清Hp浓度低于参考人群。在本研究中，我们检测了慢性丙型肝炎患者中触珠蛋白表型分布是否与参考人群不同。我们还探寻了Hp表型与丙型肝炎病毒类型以及对干扰素α治疗反应之间的可能关系。此外，还测定了Hp浓度。
研究人群包括239例经证实患有丙型肝炎的白种人患者。使用补充血红蛋白的血清进行淀粉凝胶电泳，随后进行过氧化物酶染色来确定Hp表型。采用免疫比浊法测定血清Hp浓度。根据国际公认的系统对丙型肝炎病毒进行基因分型和分类。220名健康的白种人献血者作为参考人群。
在参考人群中，35人（15.9%）为Hp 1-1，106人（48.2%）为Hp 2-1，79人（35.9%）为Hp 2-2，Hp 1等位基因频率为0.400，符合哈迪-温伯格平衡。慢性丙型肝炎病毒患者组的Hp表型分布和Hp等位基因频率与参考人群中的显著不同。在患者人群中，59人（24.7%）为Hp 1-1，112人（46.9%）为Hp 2-1，68人（28.5%）为Hp 2-2。这导致Hp 1等位基因频率为0.481，符合哈迪-温伯格平衡。在Hp表型分布与丙型肝炎病毒类型或对干扰素α治疗的反应之间未发现统计学上的显著差异。
慢性丙型肝炎中观察到的Hp表型分布变化可能表明Hp在丙型肝炎的自然演变中起作用。
