Evaluation of Ox-LDL and Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase in Hepatitis C Virus Patients Before and After Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) lifecycle is closely connected to host cell lipid metabolism, from cell entry, through viral RNA replication to viral particle production and formation/assembly. Objective: To determine the serum levels of ox-LDL, total antioxidant capability and superoxide dismutase, and estimate their role in HCV hepatitis patients. In addition, the effect of direct-acting antiviral therapy on their levels was evaluated. Methods: This study included forty chronic hepatitis C (genotype 4) patients. Blood samples were taken from the patients before and after taking sofosbuvir (400 mg) and daclatsvir 60 mg; one time daily orally for 24 weeks. Forty volunteers were used as control group. Results: Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) Serum TAC in chronic HCV hepatitis patients were significantly low 1.21 ± 0.28 mmol/liter before treatment as compared to the control group (1.61 ± 0.26 mmol/liter). Ox-LDL Serum levels of ox-LDL were significantly high in patients before (70.21 ± 10.59 μg/L) treatment and after treatment (68.48 ± 9.12 μg/L) as compared to control group (58.64 ± 6.44 μg/L). Antioxidants supplementations and direct antiviral drugs did not affect the levels of ox-LDL significantly.Superoxide dismutase (SOD) Serum levels of extracellular SOD were significantly higher in control group (15.03 ± 4.14U/ml), than levels in HCV patients before treatment (8.6 ± 1.1 U/ml) and after treatment (10.33 ± 1.6 U/ml). Treatment did not restore the levels of serum SOD in patients. Quantitative HCV PCR Direct-acting antiviral agents had a sustained virological response in the chosen group of patients. Conclusion: Direct-acting antiviral agents did not normalize serum levels of ox-LDL and extracellular SOD. In addition, the currently used antioxidants did not decrease the oxidative changes in LDL. New antioxidants as well as inducers of SOD enzymes may be helpful in preventing the formation of ox-LDL (taken as early as possible) and may be helpful in the treatment of HCV hepatitis.