title: The serum IL-23 level predicts the response to pegylated interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the possible use of interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-17 serum levels as indicators for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 127 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who received pegylated interferon (PegIFN) therapy, 20 chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsCs) and 32 healthy controls were recruited. The serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were detected by ELISA. The predictive value of baseline and early on-treatment changes in the levels of IL-23 and IL-17 for therapeutic response were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were generated to identify independent factors that affect the clearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and the decline in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were higher in patients with CHB than in normal controls and in AsCs. High levels of pre-treatment IL-23 and IL-17 and more significant on-treatment reductions in IL-23 and IL-17 levels were observed in patients with CHB who achieved HBeAg clearance or a decline in HBsAg >1 log10  IU/ml compared with patients who were persistently HBeAg-positive or who experienced a decline in HBsAg <1 log10  IU/ml. The predictive cut-off value of IL-23 for HBeAg clearance was 135 pg/ml, and the specificity and sensitivity were 71.4% and 70% respectively. A high pre-treatment level of IL-23 was an independent factor for the prediction of the therapeutic response in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB. Early on-treatment changes of IL-23 and IL-17 showed no predictive value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high pre-treatment serum IL-23 level predicts the therapeutic response in HBeAg-positive CHB patients during PegIFN therapy.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chengbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xianli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiangshan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Kaijin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Lanjuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: chronic hepatitis B; hepatitis B virus; interleukin-17; interleukin-23; pegylated interferon therapy