title: Cytokine serum levels in patients with chronic HCV infection.
abstract: The pathogenic role of immune-mediated mechanisms in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we report different cytokine expression profiles from hemodialysis (HD) and non-HD HCV (+) patients. IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta1 serum levels, and liver biochemical parameters were determined in 85 individuals (41 HD patients and 44 non-HD patients). Screening for HCV RNA and anti-HCV antibodies was performed using qualitative and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) methods, respectively. IL-4 and IL-1beta demonstrated decreased serum levels in non-HD HCV carriers compared with healthy controls. Both T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 lymphocytes were highly associated with chronic HCV infection, as indicated by the increased IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 cytokine circulating levels in all chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients examined. An enhanced Th2 response (IL-4 and IL-6) coupled with increased TNF-alpha and IL-1beta serum levels was reported in HD HCV (-) patients. In conclusion, our data show that a virus-induced Th2 and IL-1beta immunosuppression is an early event in HCV-related chronicity. Long-term HD specifically exerts a chronic effect on IL-6, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha serum circulating levels. Irrespective of the HD status, HCV viremia, and liver biochemistry parameters, both Th1 and Th2 responses are highly associated with chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Medicanalysis Institute of Molecular Biology Applications, Athens, Greece. Valisdial@hol.gr
authors.forename: Nick E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Spanakis
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Garinis
authors.forename: Evangelos C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Patrinos
authors.forename: Panayotis G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Menounos
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sklavounou
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Manolis
authors.forename: Vassilis G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Gorgoulis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta