Detection of hepatitis C virus and Fas antigen in pheripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Objective: To study hepatitis C virus antigen （HCV_Ag ） and Fas antigen （Fas_Ag ） expression at the same time in pheripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: The anti HCV core and NS₃ monoclonal antibodies with Immuno histochmemistry technique was applied to detect HCV_Ag and Fas_Ag in the PBMCs of 28 patients. Results: Positive expression of HCV_Ag and Fas_Ag were 85.7% （24/28） and 82.2% （23/28） respectively. There was a obvious positive correlation between HCV_Ag and Fas_Ag （ r =0 546, P＜0 01）. The part of PBMCs with Fas_Ag positive expression have changed in form of apoptosis. Conclusion: HCV could infect PBMCs and HCV could stimulate Fas_Ag expression. HCV in PBMCs and apoptosis mediated through Fas_Ag may lead to the persistent infection on patients.