Immune Responses in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After Treatment With Direct Acting Antiviral Drugs

Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Direct acting antiviral drugs immune responses

Case control Study to assess the difference of immune cell responses between patients with chronic HCV- related liver cirrhosis who develop HCC after treatment with DAAs and those who do not develop HCC

Clinical and laboratory assessment with measurement of Child-Pugh and MELD scores to assess the severity of liver disease and measurement of alpha fetoprotein level for HCC cases will be done. Radiological assessment using abdominal ultrasound and triphasic CT will be done to determine the extent of the HCC and staging. Blood sample from all patients will be withdrawn. Plasma will be isolated and stored at - 20C and further analysis for a panel of cytokines, caspases and growth factors using ELISA will be monitored. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be isolated using ficoll gradient method and will then be stored at -80C. B and T cell proliferation in response to specific antigens will also be investigated using CFSE staining assay followed by flow cytometry analysis for CD4, CD8 and PD-1. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis will be detected using Annexin V/PI staining method and flow cytometry analysis. The phosphorylation and activation of cytoplasmic proteins will be tested using Western blot analysis.

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