Abstract
The imbalance of T-helper (Th) lymphocyte cytokine production may play an important role in immunopathogenesis of persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To know whether an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines is present in chronic HCV infection, serum levels of Th1 cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-2, and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in this study. Eighteen individuals with chronic HCV infection, 11 healthy subjects as normal controls and 10 chronic HBV infected patients as disease controls were observed. The results showed that the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were significantly increased in chronic HCV infected patients compared with normal controls (IL-4: 30.49+/-17.55 vs. 14.94+/-13.73, pg/ml, P<0.025; IL-10: 50.30+/-19.59 vs. 17.87+/-9.49, pg/ml, P<0.001). Similarly, the levels of Th1 cytokine, IL-2, was also elevated in individuals with chronic HCV infection when compared with normal controls (IL-2: 118.53+/-95.23 vs. 61.57+/-28.70, pg/ml, P<0.05). However, Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma level was not significantly changed during HCV infection (IFN-gamma: 28.09+/-15.65 vs. 24.10+/-15.61, pg/ml, P>0.05). Furthermore, the elevated levels of Th2 cytokines are greater than Th1 cytokines in HCV infection. Thus, the study indicates that an enhanced Th2 responses are present during chronic HCV infection, which may partly be responsible for the persistence of HCV infection.
Highlights
He patitis C virus (HCV) infec tion has be en confirmed to be the major ae tiologic age nt for posttransfusion hepatitis all ove r the w orld
The serum le vels of interferon gamma (IFN-g), inte rleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-10 w e re me asured in patients w ith HCV or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal c ontrols
The c urre nt study show e d that the incre ase d production of Th1 (IFN-g and IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines are pre sent in HCV infec tion, sugge sting T-helpe r lymphocytes (Th) ce lls are activate d in vivo due to HCV infec tion
Summary
He patitis C virus (HCV) infec tion has be en confirmed to be the major ae tiologic age nt for posttransfusion hepatitis all ove r the w orld. One of the charac te ristic fe ature s is at least half of the infe ction to be c ome chronic.[1,2,3] The high mutational rate of the viral ge nome is cons idere d to be re sponsible for persiste nt HCV infec tion.[3] The inability of the host immune function to eliminate an organism is an important cause for persiste ntive form of infe c tion.[4] How e ve r, little has be en learned about the host ce llular immune re sponse to HCV. The role of the immunore gulatory cytokines in chronic HCV infec tion is re c ently be ing stressed.[5,6] In this study, to be tter know the profiles of cytokines production in individuals w ith chronic HCV infec tion, w e me asured serum levels of T-helpe r lymphocytes (Th)[1] cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-g ), inte rleukin (IL)-2, and Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-10 in such patie nts
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