title: Circulating levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in children with autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: Circulating levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in 13 children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (seven with type 1 and six with type 2). In untreated children with type 1 AIH, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were elevated when compared to those of healthy controls (p < 0.005, p < 0.02, p = 0.06, respectively), whereas in children with type 2 AIH, cytokine levels were normal in all except one sample. A significant decrease in circulating IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha was observed when patients were evaluated during a subsequent remission. We found no significant correlation of cytokine levels with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, total serum gamma-globulins, or prothrombin activity. In patients with cirrhosis, serum IL-8 and IL-6 levels were higher (significantly in the case of IL-8) than those of patients without cirrhosis. In conclusion, activation of the in vivo production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha appears to be associated with type 1 but not with type 2 AIH.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Pediatrica, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Universita di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maggiore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Benedetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pignatti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase