title: Lack of Any Relationship Between Circulating Autoantibodies and Interleukin–6 Levels in Egyptian Patients Infected with the Hepatitis C Virus
abstract: Introduction: Elevated serum interleukin (IL) 6 has been reported in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus
  (HCV), but it remains debatable whether this influences the production of autoantibodies and the biochemical profile
  of HCV disease. Therefore, this current study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between IL-6 and circulating
  autoantibody levels in HCV positive patients. Methods: Levels of IL-6 in serum samples from 102 patients with HCV
  and 103 normal controls were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Autoantibodies were
  detected by immunofluorescence. Results: Levels of IL-6 were significantly higher (p=0.028) in patients infected with
  (HCV) compared with normal group. Autoantibodies were noted in in 43.1% of the patients; of these, 23.5% featured
  anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA+), 16.7% anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA+), 7.8% anti-mitochondrial antibodies
  (AMA+), 17.6% anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA+), 7.8% anti canalicular antibodies, and 2.9% anti reticulin
  antibodies (ARA+). No patients were found to be positive for anti-brush border antibodies (ABBA) or anti-ribosomal
  antibodies. (ARiA). No links with IL-6 levels were apparent. Conclusions: IL-6 levels are increased in patients infected
  with HCV disease and could influence the production of autoantibodies. However, this study did not provide evidence
  of a specific relationship between IL6 and circulating autoantibodies in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Sadat City University,Egypt. Email: a_ali_deeb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohamed Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.forename: Ammar S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ali Deeb
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Badra
authors.forename: Ibrahim H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: El Sayed
keywords: Autoantibody; IL-6; hepatitis c virus