The relationship of serum ferritin, hepcidin, transferrin and transferrin receptors with cytokine levels in patients chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is one of the major global public health concerns. Patients with CHC often have elevated serum iron markers, which may worsen liver injury. Recently identified protein hepcidin synthesized in the liver, is thought to be a key regulator for iron homeostasis and is induced by infection and inflammation. Proinflammatory cytokines play a critical role in antiviral immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlations between iron metabolism serum markers, hepcidin, ferritin, transferrin and transferrin receptor with proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in patients with CHC infection. Patients with CHC (n:100) and healthy subjects (n: 50) were included in the study as a control group. Serum ferritin, hepcidin, transferrin, transferrin receptor, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA method. Patients with CHC showed significantly lower serum hepcidin levels than the control group, whereas ferritin, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in patients group (p<0.05). However transferrin and transferrin receptor values did not show a significant difference in both groups (p>0.05). Between TNF-α levels with hepcidin, ferritin and transferrin receptor values were dedected a statistically significant correlation (respectively r:0.283, r:0.326, r:0.267 and p <0.05), additionally a significant correlation could be found with IL-6 levels between hepcidin levels (r:0.259, p<0.05). Our results indicate that serum hepcidin levels are related with proinflammotry cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6 parameters derived from liver inflammation in patients with CHC. We believe that the results of this study, the clinical course and progression of CHC patients it would provide an important contribution. Key words: Ferritin, Hepatitis C, Hepcidin, IL-6, TNF-α.