Abstract
Background: Cytokines play an essential role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interleukin-9 (IL-9) participates in inflammation, autoimmunity and tumor immunity. IL-9 was reported to affect liver fibrosis, severity and prognosis of HCV related diseases.Aim of the study: To assess the potential correlation of serum IL-9 level and its receptor with the progression and prognosis of patients having HCV related chronic liver disease and its probable association with hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Sixty-eight patients having HCV chronic liver disease and 20 apparently healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in the study. The patients were grouped into 3 groups: 18 patients having compensated chronic liver disease (CCLD), 18 patients having decompensated chronic liver disease, and 32 patients having hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum IL-9 level was estimated by ELISA and IL-9 receptor (IL-9R) gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in HCC group and HCs.Results: IL-9 level was significantly higher in patients in comparison to HCs and there was statistically significant difference between the 3 patients’ groups (p 1600pg/ml, IL-9 had the ability to differentiate between CCLD group and HCC group with 75% sensitivity and 94.44% specificity. There was a highly significant statistical difference between HCC group and HCs in IL-9R gene expression (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Serum IL-9 level is higher in chronic HCV infected patients than in HCs. IL-9R gene expression is higher among HCC patients than in HCs.
Highlights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic infection in more than 71 million people worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates [1]
I- Patients Sixty-eight patients were enrolled in the study and were divided into 3 groups: group 1: 18 patients having compensated chronic liver disease (CCLD) due to hepatitis C virus (HCV), group 2: 18 patients having decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) and group 3: 32 patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
The demographic, clinical and laboratory data of the patients together with tumour staging in HCC group are illustrated in table (1)
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic infection in more than 71 million people worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates [1]. Considering the emerging role of IL-9 in inflammation and tumour immunity, together with the lack of information about its immunopathological role in HCV infection and HCC as one of its complications, we hereby aimed at assessing the potential correlation between the serum IL-9 level and the clinical characteristics, progression and prognosis of liver disease in different groups of chronically infected HCV patients, and to investigate the possible correlation of IL-9 level and its receptor expression with HCC.
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