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This study aimed to investigate the plasma levels of Gas6 and soluble Axl (sAxl) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study involved four groups; 50 patients with chronic HCV, 50 patients with T2DM, 50 patients with chronic HCV and T2DM, and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. T2DM was diagnosed according to American Diabetes Association criteria, HCV antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and confirmed by real-time-polymerase chain reaction. Plasma Gas6 and sAxl levels were assayed in all groups by ELISA. Significant low levels of GAS 6 in HCV/T2DM group versus HCV group were detected (7.92 ± 5.18 vs. 16.09 ± 7.36, respectively, p  = 0.000), but higher than T2DM and control groups ( p  ≥ 0.05), although nonsignificant. HCV load was higher in the HCV group than the HCV/T2DM group (1,888,300 ± 5,595,070 vs. 1,417,900 ± 4,066,460 copies/mL, respectively, p  = 0.632). Among HCV group, significant positive correlations were detected between Gas6 and sAxl levels with HCV viral load ( r  = 0.48, p  = 0.000 and r  = 0.43, p  = 0.002, respectively), while among HCV/T2DM group, significant negative correlations were detected ( r  = -0.29, p  = 0.04 and r  = -0.34, p  = 0.014, respectively). Significant negative correlations were detected between Gas6/sAxl levels and glycated hemoglobin ( r  = -0.36, p  = 0.01 and r  = -0.4, p  = 0.003, respectively) in T2DM despite the positive correlations detected in HCV/T2DM ( r  = 0.27, p  = 0.053 and r  = 0.55, p  = 0.000, respectively). In conclusion, Gas6/Axl system in combined HCV/T2DM diseases may affect the pathogenesis and can alter the biomarkers and complications of both diseases in a manner that differs from a solitary disease.

Aim: Growth arrest specific protein 6 (Gas-6) and its tyrosine kinase receptor Axl plays an important role in apoptosis, and regulation of innate immune response, therefore, we investigated their plasma concentrations in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and correlated them to clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters of the disease., Methods: Plasma from 77 RA patients and 50 normal healthy subjects were assayed for plasma Gas6 and Axl levels. Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively assessed. Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity was assessed using 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) and functional capacity by modified health assessment questionnaire (mHAQ). Standardized x-rays for hands and feet were done to all participants., Results: The level of Gas6 and Axl were significantly decreased in the RA patients compared to those of the healthy control subjects. Levels of Gas6 correlated positively with Axl levels in both patients and healthy control. Gas6 levels were remarkably reduced in those patients with erosive RA than those without. Levels of Gas6 were found to be negatively correlated with the presence of erosive disease and positively correlated with DAS-28, ESR, Leucocytosis and IL6., Conclusion: The plasma concentrations of Gas6 and Axl are altered in RA patients and thus may have a role in RA pathogenesis. Further mechanistic studies on the involvement of all TAM receptors tyrosine kinases pathway in RA are needed to help in understanding the pathogenesis and possibly aid in diagnosis and future treatments of RA especially for patients with erosive disease., (© 2014 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate plasma concentrations of Gas6 and its soluble tyrosine kinase receptor sAxl in Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Behçets disease (BD) patients and to correlate those levels with clinical and laboratory manifestations of the diseases., Methods: The study included 89 female SLE and 49 male BD patients. Twenty-seven age and sex matched healthy volunteers served as controls. All patients were subjected to full clinical examination, laboratory investigations and assessment of disease activity. Plasma concentrations of Gas6 and sAxl were quantified using ELISA technique., Results: The level of Gas6 and Axl were significantly altered in the SLE patients (p < 0.001) and in the BD patients (p 0.001 and 0.04 respectively) compared to those of the control. In SLE, the Gas6 was remarkably lower in those with class 1 lupus nephritis and in those with neuropsychiatric manifestations. In the BD patients, the level of Axl was significantly increased in those with neurological disease activity. The number of lymphocytes significantly negatively correlated with the gas6 and Axl levels significantly correlated with the number of neutrophils and negatively with the lymphocytic count in the BD patients., Conclusion: The plasma concentrations of Gas6 and Axl were significantly altered in SLE and BD patients, suggesting that the Axl receptor shedding is an active process affected by and influences Gas6-mediated Axl-signaling in both diseases. Special attention is required in SLE patients with early lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric manifestations and BD patients presenting with neurological disease activity. The relation with lymphocytes and neutrophils in BD throws light on the role of gas6 and Axl on their known resistance to cell death. Although the mechanisms responsible for the initiation of BD remain to be clarified, the role of the apoptotic process seems critical throughout the disease.