title: Cytokine profiles affecting the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis in Japanese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology, although several cytokines have been implicated in its pathogenesis and severity. This study investigated the relationship between circulating cytokines in the pretreatment phase and remission following corticosteroid therapy phase in Japanese AIH patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 cytokines were measured simultaneously by multiple bead array technology in the sera of 40 patients with AIH collected during pretreatment and remission phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin (IL)-12p40, interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, IL-17F and IL-18 were significantly decreased during remission from pretreatment stage levels. The level of IP-10 in the pretreatment phase was correlated with serum levels of alanine aminotransferase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that a complex interplay of several cytokines, especially pro-inflammatory and T-helper 17 cytokines and regulatory T-cell suppression by IL-12p40 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AIH.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine Legal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: Kaname
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshita
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Takeji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichijo
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanaka