Hepatitis B virus enhances interleukin-27 expression both in vivo and in vitro.
The immune system plays important roles in determining the outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a recently identified pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by macrophages, dendritic cells, and epithelial cells. To determine the correlation between HBV infection and IL-27 expression, we investigated the serum IL-27 levels in patients with HBV infection and in healthy individuals. Results showed that IL-27 was significantly elevated in patients as compared to healthy individuals (P<0.001). IL-27 was also detected at higher levels in patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma than those with acute hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis B (P<0.05). We also found that IL-27 expression was influenced by HBV e antigen. In addition, our in vitro studies demonstrated that IL-27 promoter activity, mRNA and protein expression were all stimulated in cells transfected with infectious HBV clone.
Zhu
Chengliang
C
The State Key Laboratory of Virology and College of Life Sciences, Chinese-French Liver Disease Research Institute (Zhongnan Hospital), Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
Zhang
Rui
R
Liu
Li
L
Rasool
Sahibzada T
ST
Mu
Yongxin
Y
Sun
Wei
W
Hao
Qian
Q
Liu
Fang
F
Zhu
Ying
Y
Wu
Jianguo
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D014162:Transfection; D019562:Viral Load
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; C464565:MYDGF protein, human