title: The correlation between plasma cytokine levels in jaundice-free children with biliary atresia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T helper (Th) cell cytokines modulate inflammation and play a role in biliary atresia (BA). The aim of the study is a cross-sectional assessment of the levels of Th cytokines in the jaundice-free post Kasai procedure patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 40 jaundice-free patients with BA and 28 normal controls enrolled. Patients were divided into 3 groups, including normal liver function, impaired liver function, and portal hypertension. Plasma concentration of Th1 [interferon-γ (INF-γ), interleukin (IL)-2], Th2 (IL-4, IL-10), Th3 [transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)], Th17 (IL-17) cytokines, and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IFN-γ level was significantly higher in the BA patients with impaired liver function and portal hypertension than controls (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively). There was a significantly increase of TGF-ß1 in all BA groups compared with controls (P=0.003). The reduction of SDF-1α expression was found in BA groups (P<0.0001). IL-10 levels significantly correlated with aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (r=0.496, P=0.001). For the cytokine correlations, there were no correlations of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine with the other measured cytokines, but TGF-ß1 was negatively correlated with SDF-1α levels (r=-0.327, P=0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-γ and IL-10 are likely to be involved in the disease progression in BA. Besides, TGF-β1 is found to be a suppression marker associated with SDF-1α levels and reduced production of TGF-β1 may be associated with the disease progression.
authors.affiliation: , Taiwan, China.|Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, China.|Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, 40201, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.affiliation: , Taiwan, China.|Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: , Taiwan, China.|Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Chieh-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: , Taiwan, China. wangjiaander@gmail.com.|Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, China. wangjiaander@gmail.com.|School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, China. wangjiaander@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jiaan-Der
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: biliary atresia; gastroenterology; immunology; pediatric disease
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