T-cell immunoregulatory cytokines influence the persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection and the extent of liver damage. Th1 cytokines positively correlate with hepatic inflammation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The pro-inflammatory, cytokines IL-6 and IL-18, are involved in viral clearance and in metabolic and viral hepatic diseases, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of Th1/Th2 cytokines in HCV and HBV hepatitis. HBV-infected patients showed higher plasma IFN-gamma levels than the HCV+ patients or the control group (p <0.0001). Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-2 were higher in HBV+ in comparison to HCV+ patients (p <0.001) or the control group (p <0.005). Plasma IL-6 and IL-18 were higher in both groups of patients compared to the control group (p <0.04). In HCV+ and HBV+ groups, IL-6 was positively correlated with the duration of the illness (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively) and viral load (p <0.001 and <0.001, respectively), while IL-18 was positively correlated with serum ALT activity (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively) and serum AST activity (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively). We found that in HCV+ and HBV+ patients there are higher levels of Th1 cytokines, particularly in the course of chronic hepatitis B, and that IL-18 and IL-6 levels may have important roles as markers of both inflammation and hepatic injury, particularly in the course of hepatitis C.

Cytokine patterns correlate with liver damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

FALASCA, KATIA;UCCIFERRI, CLAUDIO;Petrarca C;PIZZIGALLO, Eligio;CONTI, Pio;VECCHIET, Jacopo
2006-01-01

Abstract

T-cell immunoregulatory cytokines influence the persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection and the extent of liver damage. Th1 cytokines positively correlate with hepatic inflammation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The pro-inflammatory, cytokines IL-6 and IL-18, are involved in viral clearance and in metabolic and viral hepatic diseases, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of Th1/Th2 cytokines in HCV and HBV hepatitis. HBV-infected patients showed higher plasma IFN-gamma levels than the HCV+ patients or the control group (p <0.0001). Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-2 were higher in HBV+ in comparison to HCV+ patients (p <0.001) or the control group (p <0.005). Plasma IL-6 and IL-18 were higher in both groups of patients compared to the control group (p <0.04). In HCV+ and HBV+ groups, IL-6 was positively correlated with the duration of the illness (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively) and viral load (p <0.001 and <0.001, respectively), while IL-18 was positively correlated with serum ALT activity (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively) and serum AST activity (p <0.01 and <0.001, respectively). We found that in HCV+ and HBV+ patients there are higher levels of Th1 cytokines, particularly in the course of chronic hepatitis B, and that IL-18 and IL-6 levels may have important roles as markers of both inflammation and hepatic injury, particularly in the course of hepatitis C.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/113778
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