Cytokine levels of TGF-beta, IL-10, and sTNFalphaRII in type C chronic liver disease

Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Aug;53(8):2233-7. doi: 10.1007/s10620-007-0130-9. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Abstract

Cytokines play a key role in regulation of immunity and inflammation. The aim of the study was to detect serum levels of TGF-beta, IL-10, and sTNFalphaRII in patients with type C chronic liver disease (CLD) and to correlate these with biochemical and histopathological parameters used to assess the severity of the disease. Blood samples were aseptically collected from 90 CLD patients. Cytokine levels were also followed up in 39 chronic hepatitis cases. Levels of the cytokines in 90 CLD patients were significantly higher than in controls. In the follow up patients, 12 were non-responders and the serum levels of cytokines were still elevated after therapy whereas in 27 responders cytokine levels were significantly reduced after therapy and correlated well with biochemical and histopathological parameters. It is inferred that cytokine levels reflect the level of inflammation in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and can be used as indirect markers to assess the severity of liver disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / blood*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / blood*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / blood*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • IL10 protein, human
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interleukin-10