title: The levels of IL-1 nu beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-gamma among patients with chronic hepatitis type C treated with IFN-alpha.
abstract: Interferon regulates the activity of other cytokines. Alterations in non-specific immune response, particularly cytokine level changes result in therapeutic difficulties in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-gamma were measured in patients with chronic hepatitis C before the interferon therapy, in the early phase of the treatment (after the 6th dose of the drug), and in the later stable phase of the treatment (after the 36th dose of the drug). Concentrations of cytokines during the interferon therapy were compared to the changes in alanine aminotransferase activity. The IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 serum concentrations were initially elevated in all patients. The increase in IL-1 beta level after the 6th dose and the decrease after 36th dose of IFN appeared to be an indicator of a good response to treatment. High levels of IL-6 before the IFN therapy followed by a decrease after the 6th dose and high levels of IL-4 followed by a decrease after 36th IFN dose also indicated good response. High levels of IL-2, stable throughout the treatment suggested a poor response. No changes in the IFN-gamma values before or during the treatment were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Academy of Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Łapiński
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D007371:Interferon-gamma