Serum interferon-gamma-inducing factor/IL-18 levels in primary biliary cirrhosis.
Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune disease of the liver in which T helper 1 cytokines predominate over those of T helper 2 in the pathogenesis. Interleukin- 18 (IL-18), for which the gene was recently cloned, is a novel T helper 1 cytokine, which augments interferon-gamma production. We designed this study to clarify the role of IL-18 in primary biliary cirrhosis and to examine whether serum IL-18 level can be a prognostic indicator for the disease. Serum IL-18 levels were measured using an enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay with mouse monoclonal antibodies. Twenty-two healthy volunteers, 31 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (Scheuer's stage I, 13; II, 10; and IV, 8), 20 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, 11 patients with virus-related liver cirrhosis and six patients with obstructive jaundice were enrolled. Significant differences of serum IL-18 levels were observed between patients with Scheuer's stage IV and those with stage I, or II, virus-related liver cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice (P < 0.05). The IL-18 levels in primary biliary cirrhosis increased according to the disease progression, and fell promptly after living-related liver transplantation. Moreover, serum IL-18 levels in primary biliary cirrhosis were correlated with serum bilirubin concentrations and the Risk scores of the Mayo Clinic prognostic model for the disease. The IL-18 levels observed in patients with autoimmune hepatitis were also elevated, and correlated with the activity of the disease. These results indicate that serum interleukin-18 levels reflect the severity of primary biliary cirrhosis, the activity of autoimmune hepatitis, and may be an additive prognostic indicator in primary biliary cirrhosis.
Yamano
T
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama-city, Japan.
Higashi
T
T
Nouso
K
K
Nakatsukasa
H
H
Kariyama
K
K
Yumoto
E
E
Kobayashi
Y
Y
Yamamoto
K
K
Iwagaki
H
H
Yagi
T
T
Tanimoto
T
T
Kurimoto
M
M
Tanaka
N
N
Tsuji
T
T
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma