Abstract
Background: Recently, interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokine family plays important roles in the host immunity in chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmune and viral liver diseases. However, studies on the IL-17 role in the immunopathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are limited. Objectives: to assess serum IL-17 levels in chronically HCV infected patients and their relations to the severity of liver disease. Patients and methods: The study included 200 chronically HCV infected patients; 100 chronic hepatitis C, 100 liver cirrhosis including 35 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 30 controls. Serum IL-17 levels were quantified by ELISA. Results: Serum IL-17 levels were significantly higher in chronically HCV infected patients than controls and cirrhotics had the highest levels (P<0.001). These levels were positively related with inflammation grade and fibrosis stage. Serum IL-17 was significantly higher in HCC than controls. IL-17 was significantly correlated with prothrombin time, ALT, serum albumin, viral load, and alpha fetoprotein-L3. Conclusion: IL-17 levels were increased with increasing liver disease progression and chronicity. Thus, IL-17 may be an important biological marker for the immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis and HCC.
Highlights
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection affects an estimated 180 million people globally, and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and primary indication for liver transplantation [1,2]
Serum IL-17 levels were significantly higher in patients with Liver Cirrhosis (LC) compared to CHC group (P
The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of the Th17 immune response which is not fully understood by determining serum levels of the IL-17 cytokine, in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection as well as cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aiming to reach an immunotherapeutic target at the future for the prevention of liver tissue damage
Summary
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection affects an estimated 180 million people globally, and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and primary indication for liver transplantation [1,2]. This RNA virus primarily infects hepatocytes and induces an immune-related necroinflammatory hepatic reaction, frequently leading to significant fibrosis or cirrhosis [3]. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokine family plays important roles in the host immunity in chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmune and viral liver diseases. Studies on the IL-17 role in the immunopathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are limited
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