Background The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is associated with an inflammatory process involving the biliary tree. This study aimed to investigate the association of T-helper cell cytokine levels with age in p...Background The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is associated with an inflammatory process involving the biliary tree. This study aimed to investigate the association of T-helper cell cytokine levels with age in patients with BA. Methods Twenty-eight patients with BA were divided into three groups according to their age (< 2 months, 2–3 months, and ≥ 3 months). All the patients underwent Kasai portoenterostomy. Blood samples were collected from the patients pre-operatively, and the liver tissue specimens were obtained during surgery. We detected serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β1. Results The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-6, and IL-10 in patients aged ≥ 3 months were significantly higher than those in patients aged < 2 months. There were no significant age-related differences in the IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expres-sion levels in the liver tissue of patients with BA. Conclusions The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 showed significant age-related differences in patients with BA. Interpretation of the role of cytokines in BA needs to take patient's age into consideration.展开更多
文摘Background The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is associated with an inflammatory process involving the biliary tree. This study aimed to investigate the association of T-helper cell cytokine levels with age in patients with BA. Methods Twenty-eight patients with BA were divided into three groups according to their age (< 2 months, 2–3 months, and ≥ 3 months). All the patients underwent Kasai portoenterostomy. Blood samples were collected from the patients pre-operatively, and the liver tissue specimens were obtained during surgery. We detected serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β1. Results The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-6, and IL-10 in patients aged ≥ 3 months were significantly higher than those in patients aged < 2 months. There were no significant age-related differences in the IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expres-sion levels in the liver tissue of patients with BA. Conclusions The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 showed significant age-related differences in patients with BA. Interpretation of the role of cytokines in BA needs to take patient's age into consideration.
