AIM： To observe the imbalance between T helper cell Th1 and Th2 cytokines in several chronic hepatitis disease at different stages of disease progression. METHODS： We measured the cytokine levels of Thl （IL-2 and I...AIM： To observe the imbalance between T helper cell Th1 and Th2 cytokines in several chronic hepatitis disease at different stages of disease progression. METHODS： We measured the cytokine levels of Thl （IL-2 and IL-2R）, Th2 （IL-10） and the pro-inflammatory cytokines （IL-6 and IL-6R and TNF and TNF-RI and II） by the ELISA technique in the sera of 33 hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients and 20 chronic liver disease （CLD） patients. In addition, 20 asymptomatic hepatitis C virus carriers and 20 healthy subjects negative for hepatitis C virus（HCV） markers served as controls. RESULTS： Anti-HCV antibodies were found to be positive in 94% of HCC cases and 75% of CLD cases. On the other hand, HCV viremia was detected using RT- PCR in 67% of HCC cases and 65% of CLD cases. HBsAg was positive in 9% of HCC cases and 30% of CLD cases. Also bilharziaI-Ab was positive in 55% of HCC cases, 65% of CLD cases and in 70% of asymptomatic carriers （ASC）. HCC patients had significantly higher values of IL- 2R, TNF-RII （P〈0.001）, and TNF-RI （P〉0.05）, but lower TNFα （P〈0.001） and IL-6 （P = 0.032） in comparison to ASC. But, in comparison to non-cancer controls, HCC patients had higher values of IL-2R, IL-6R, TNF-RI and TNF-RII, but lower TNF-α （P〈0.001）. CLD patients had higher IL-2R, TNF-RI, and TNF-RII （P〈0.001） than ASC. But, in comparison to non-cancer controls, CLD patients had higher values of IL-2R, TNF-RI and TNF-RII, but lower TNF-α （P〈0.001）. IL-10 was higher （though not significantly） in HCC and CLD patients than in symptomatic carriers and non-cancer controls. CONCLUSION： Liver disease progression from CLD to HCC due to HCV genotype-4 infection is associated with an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines. IL-2R, TNF-RI, and TNF-RII could be used as potential markers.展开更多
基金Supported by the USA project BIO-8-002-009 and by the Grant office of National Cancer Institute, Cairo University
文摘AIM： To observe the imbalance between T helper cell Th1 and Th2 cytokines in several chronic hepatitis disease at different stages of disease progression. METHODS： We measured the cytokine levels of Thl （IL-2 and IL-2R）, Th2 （IL-10） and the pro-inflammatory cytokines （IL-6 and IL-6R and TNF and TNF-RI and II） by the ELISA technique in the sera of 33 hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients and 20 chronic liver disease （CLD） patients. In addition, 20 asymptomatic hepatitis C virus carriers and 20 healthy subjects negative for hepatitis C virus（HCV） markers served as controls. RESULTS： Anti-HCV antibodies were found to be positive in 94% of HCC cases and 75% of CLD cases. On the other hand, HCV viremia was detected using RT- PCR in 67% of HCC cases and 65% of CLD cases. HBsAg was positive in 9% of HCC cases and 30% of CLD cases. Also bilharziaI-Ab was positive in 55% of HCC cases, 65% of CLD cases and in 70% of asymptomatic carriers （ASC）. HCC patients had significantly higher values of IL- 2R, TNF-RII （P〈0.001）, and TNF-RI （P〉0.05）, but lower TNFα （P〈0.001） and IL-6 （P = 0.032） in comparison to ASC. But, in comparison to non-cancer controls, HCC patients had higher values of IL-2R, IL-6R, TNF-RI and TNF-RII, but lower TNF-α （P〈0.001）. CLD patients had higher IL-2R, TNF-RI, and TNF-RII （P〈0.001） than ASC. But, in comparison to non-cancer controls, CLD patients had higher values of IL-2R, TNF-RI and TNF-RII, but lower TNF-α （P〈0.001）. IL-10 was higher （though not significantly） in HCC and CLD patients than in symptomatic carriers and non-cancer controls. CONCLUSION： Liver disease progression from CLD to HCC due to HCV genotype-4 infection is associated with an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines. IL-2R, TNF-RI, and TNF-RII could be used as potential markers.
