A study on the relationship between tissue factor expression and liver damage in diabetic patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to identify a possible role for tissue factor (TF) in the pathogenesis of hepatic damage in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Background HCV infection and T2DM are both prevalent diseases worldwide. The exact mechanism by which type 2 diabetes worsens liver function is needed to be clarified. TF is a key link that connects hemostatic, immune, and inflammatory processes. Materials and methods The study included 80 participants divided into three groups: 30 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis and T2DM, 30 cirrhotic patients, and 20 healthy controls. Flow cytometry analysis was used for measuring TF (CD142) and the costimulatory molecule (CD86) on lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes (CD14 positive cells) in peripheral blood in different studied groups. Results Our results have shown higher TF and CD86 expression in cirrhotic patients with T2DM compared with those with cirrhosis and healthy controls (34.06 ± 5.99, 24.65 ± 6.76 and 11.90 ± 3.04 for TF and 72.09 ± 12.57, 49.38 ± 15.07 and 9.35 ± 3.07 for CD86, respectively; P Conclusion On the basis of our data, we suggest a possible role for TF in the pathogenesis of liver damage through exaggerating the inflammatory process. This can, at least partially, explain the worsened liver function in HCV-related cirrhosis in patients with T2DM.