Levels of circulating antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and proinflammatory cytokines at different stages of biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
Antiinflammatory cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1ra) and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]- alpha and IL-6) appear to play important roles in the pathophysiology of liver disease. In this study, the authors attempt to identify the roles of IL-1ra, IL-6, and TNF-alpha at different stages in postoperative biliary atresia (POBA) patients.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of IL-1ra, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were measured in 34 POBA patients and 25 healthy controls using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). POBA patients were classified into 5 groups: group I (n = 21), less than 3 years old; Ia, stable; Ib, mild liver dysfunction; Ic, severe liver dysfunction. Group II (n = 13), (more than 3 years old); IIa, stable; IIb, variable liver dysfunction.


RESULTS
For IL-1ra differences between controls and groups Ib, Ic, and IIa were statistically significant (P <.01), and for IL-6, differences between controls and groups Ia, Ib, Ic, and IIb were statistically significant (P <.01). Groups Ib and Ic (less than 3 years old subjects) had the highest levels in this series. Serum TNF-alpha was not detected in any groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between serum levels of IL-6 and IL-1ra may be predictive of prognosis with respect to the progression of fibrosis in POBA patients.
Kobayashi
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yamataka
Atsuyuki
A
Lane
Geoffrey J
GJ
Miyano
Takeshi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha