Interleukin-10 is associated with immune phases of patients with chronic hepatitis B

Abstract

Objective To determine the expression of interleukin(IL)-10 and its associated cytokines in different immune phases of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Method A total of 197 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included, including 40 for immune tolerance(IT)phase, 97 immune clearance (IC) phase, 26 low replication (LR) phase, and 34 for HBeAg negative hepatitis B (ENH) phase. The level of IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in plasma was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results The plasma levels of IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in chronic hepatitis B patients were significantly higher than healthy controls (all P< 0.05), as well as mRNA levels of these cytokines shared the same condition. The plasma level of IL-10 and IL-10 mRNA level in PBMCs were significantly correlated with ALT, AST and IL-6 (P<0.05)and negatively correlated with TNF-α (P< 0.05). The levels of plasma IL-10 and IL-10 mRNA in patients with immune clearance phase was significantly higher than patients with immune tolerance phase and low replication phase(P<0.05). IL-10mRNA in patients with HBeAg negative hepatitis B phase was higher than that with immune tolerance phase (P< 0.05). Conclusion IL-10 might contribute to immune phases of chronic HBV infection. Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic; Immune phases; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 6; Tumornecrosis factor-α