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This study evaluated the relative mRNA expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the p75 neurothrophin receptor (p75NTR) in different histological stages of human liver disease. Fifty-one liver biopsy specimens obtained from patients with hepatitis B virus (n = 6), hepatitis C virus (n = 28), and non-viral hepatitis – (n = 9) and standard histological liver (n = 8) as controls (CT) were subjected to qPCR and histopathological exams. Our data revealed a significant difference in the NGF expression levels between the three patient groups and the Control group. p75NTR expression levels in the HCV and NVH groups were higher than those observed in the HBV and Control groups. In cases of liver cirrhosis, higher p75NTR mRNA expression was observed, whereas NGF was expressed at higher levels in patients with hepatic fibrosis. NGF expression was lower in the F1 liver fibrosis stage, and p75NTR receptor expression continuously and proportionately increased compared to the increase in the degree of fibrosis and was significantly higher in livers in fibrosis stages 3 and 4. The hepatic levels of NGF and p75NTR were decreased and increased, respectively, relative to the stage of inflammatory activity. A positive correlation between p75NTR and NGF gene expression was observed in livers with mild to moderate fibrosis, though not in cases of severe fibrosis and cirrhosis.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that the course of chronic liver disease can be regulated by NGF and p75NTR, which function by decreasing or inhibiting hepatocyte regeneration and proliferation.

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of infection with human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) in a population from the municipalities of Anajás, Chaves, São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and Portel in the Marajó Archipelago and correlated these data with the epidemiological characteristics of the study population.MethodsA total of 1899 biological samples were evaluated. The samples were screened for the presence of anti-HTLV antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and infection was confirmed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR and nucleotide sequencing.ResultsEleven samples (0.58%) were seropositive for HTLV, but molecular analysis confirmed positivity in only two samples (0.11%). Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two samples positive for HTLV-1 that were isolated in Chaves belonged to the Cosmopolitan subtype 1 (HTLV-1a) and Transcontinental subgroup (A).ConclusionOur results confirmed the presence of Cosmopolitan Transcontinental HTLV-1 in the Marajó Archipelago, Amazon region, and the majority of the population revealed a lack of knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, which increases the risk of dissemination of HTLV and other agents.

Higher serum levels of IFN-γ and TGF-beta1 were associated with chronic hepatitis B, and lower serum levels of IL-10 were found in patients with the active disease. Furthermore the presence of allele A of the TNF-α -308 polymorphism suggest a risk of the progressive disease.