Serum α-chemokine CXCL10 and β-chemokine CCL2 levels in HCV-positive cryoglobulinemia

Abstract

Chemokines are a group of low-molecular-weight peptides that induce the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation. Among the four major families, CXC chemokines, with CXCL10 as the prototype, display a strong chemo-attractant activity for Th1 lymphocytes and is a reliable marker of Th1-immune mediated diseases. Chemokines from the CC family, with CCL2 as the prototype, are chemo-attractant to Th2 lymphocytes. Our studies demonstrate significantly high serum levels of CXCL10 in patients with MC+HCV with respect to HCV-infected patients without mixed cryoglobulinemia, in particular in the presence of active vasculitis, autoimmune thyroiditis or diabetes. Serum levels of CCL2 in MC+HCV were higher than in controls, but similar to those in HCV-infected patients without mixed cryoglobulinemia. The high levels of CXCL10 in MC+HCV suggest that a Th1 immune process is the immunological base of the association between MC+HCV and the appearance of the above-mentioned disorders. Future studies in larger patient series will be needed to evaluate the relevance of serum CXCL10 as clinico-prognostic marker of MC+HCV, as well as its usefulness in the therapeutic approach to these patients.