The Role of Complement Regulatory Proteins During Liver Homeostasis and Hepatitis C Virus-Related Liver Disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Throughout the infection, HCV demonstrably increases complement regulatory protein levels in hepatocytes, skewing the body’s ability to respond to the infection and contributing to its chronicity. Research on membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins demonstrates that CD59 is increased in the serum of HCV-infected individuals and CD55 expression is increased as observed histologically in the liver specimens, though CD55 does not correlate with the severity of liver fibrosis. These findings present the possibility that these proteins, especially CD59, may act as early biomarkers for liver damage, decreasing the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures. This review compiles existing evidence that the complement system holds unexplored diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic benefits for the early detection of HCV infection and its sequelae. Additionally, monitoring dynamic changes in the complement activation markers and complement regulatory proteins during the process of donor liver harvest, ischemia and reperfusion may also predict the success of liver transplantations.