title: Serum interferon-gamma-inducing factor/IL-18 levels in primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama-city, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouso
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakatsukasa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kariyama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yumoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwagaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma