[Influence of IL-4 on the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA by PBMCs from patients with subfulminant viral hepatitis before and after treatment].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the influence of IL-4 on the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA by PBMCs from patients with subfulminant viral hepatitis(SFH) before and after IL-4 treatment.


METHODS
The expression levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA by PBMCs were assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR.


RESULTS
IL-4 suppressed the expression of both TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA by PBMCs from SFH patients before and after treatment dose-dependently. However, their dose-response curves showed significant differences. The inhibitory effect could be observed at a concentration of 100 U/ml and was near to maximum at 1,000 U/ml in acute phase, whereas the same suppressive action of IL-4 was reached at 100 U/ml in recovery phase. When PBMCs were cultured in the presence of IL-4 at a concentration of 100 U/ml, IL-4 down-regulated the production of both TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA by acute phase PBMCs only to 18.18-21.98% of control cells(in absence of IL-4), while the inhibitory rates were all near to 50% in recovery phases. Moreover, it was also found that the suppressive effect of IL-4 on the expression of PBMCs TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA in the patients with endotoxinemia and HBeAg was significantly decreased in acute phase.


CONCLUSIONS
The inhibitory effect of IL-4 on the expression of PBMCs TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha mRNA is markedly decreased in acute phase as compared with that in recovery phase and this declined response may be related to endotoxinemia and viremia.
Shi
Y
Y
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou 8th People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510060.
Zhang
L
L
Sun
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4