title: Serum levels of interleukin-6 and its soluble receptors in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important cytokine in liver regeneration, and elevated levels of IL-6 have been demonstrated in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). Many biological effects of IL-6 depend on naturally occurring soluble IL-6 receptors. In the present study we measured the concentrations of IL-6 and its soluble receptors in the sera of patients with CLD related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We studied 77 patients with varying degrees of HCV-related CLD. Serum levels of IL-6 and its soluble receptors (sIL-6R, sgp130) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum IL-6 and sIL-6R were elevated in patients with CLD compared with healthy subjects. Serum levels of sgp130 did not differ between patients with chronic hepatitis and healthy subjects. However, in patients with liver cirrhosis, sgp130 was significantly elevated and was positively correlated with total bilirubin and negatively correlated with cholinesterase and prothrombin time. Our study demonstrated that in patients with HCV-related CLD, serum IL-6 and its soluble receptor levels are correlated with both liver function impairment and the degree of liver fibrosis. These observations suggest that the balance of IL-6 and its soluble receptors may correspond to the state of liver damage in patients with CLD.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, NHO Nagasaki Medical Center, and Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Kubara 2-1001-1, Omura, Nagasaki 856-8562, Japan. migita@nmc.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Migita
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abiru
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daikoku
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohata
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Atsumasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yatsuhashi
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130