title: Low serum levels of alpha-interferon, gamma-interferon, and interleukin-2 in alcoholic cirrhosis.
abstract: The existence of cellular immune deficit in alcoholic cirrhosis, together with the role of alpha- and gamma-interferon and interleukin-2 in the immune system, led us to compare serum levels of these immune system mediators in a group of 40 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis classified according to Child-Pugh's grade of severity of liver disease and 23 healthy volunteers. Serum levels of alpha-IFN, gamma-IFN, and IL-2 were significantly depressed in alcoholic cirrhotics, with no significant differences between the different degrees of hepatic damage. The results suggest a profound alteration in the immune system of alcoholic cirrhotics, which may contribute to the development of the disease and the accompanying immune system deficit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vicente-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diez Ruiz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gil Extremera
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bermúdez García
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Gea
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000032:analysis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma