The roles of serum IL-18, IL-10, TNF-alpha and sIL-2R in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the roles of serum IL-18, IL-10, TNF-alpha and sIL-2R in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and the effects of interferon on the mentioned serum cytokines.


METHODS
The levels of IL-18, IL-10, TNF-alpha and sIL-2R were detected in 10 healthy controls, 24 asymptomatic HCV carriers, and 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C (before and after IFN treatment) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The levels of IL-18, IL-10, TNF-alpha and sIL-2R in the patients of chronic hepatitis C were higher than those in the healthy controls (P<0.05) and in asymptomatic HCV carriers (P<0.05). The values of the mentioned cytokines showed a significant positive correlation to GPT. The levels of the mentioned cytokines decreased obviously after IFN treatment (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IL-10 and sIL-2R reduced in sequence in no-response group, partial-response group and complete-response group.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-18, IL-10, TNF-alpha and sIL-2R co-participate in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C, and are used to evaluate the effect of IFN on the immune state of organisms, and IL-10 and sIL-2R are important for predicting the anti-viral efficacy of IFN.
Jia
Hong-Yu
HY
Department of Infectious Diseases, First Clinical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. jia_hy@sohu.com
Du
Jie
J
Zhu
Si-He
SH
Ma
Ying-Ji
YJ
Chen
Huan-Yong
HY
Yang
Bao-Shan
BS
Cai
Hua-Feng
HF
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase