Th1/Th2 type cytokines in hepatitis B patients treated with interferon-α
- VernacularTitle:慢性乙型肝炎用干扰素治疗的Th1/Th2应答
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2001;114(9):921-924
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokines and the effect of interferon-α therapy. Methods Th1/Th2 type cytokines were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 23 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated with interferon-α. Results Levels of IFN-γ in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures from the patients with hepatitis B were slightly lower than those of controls (P=0.07). However, the levels of IL-4 were higher than those of controls (P=0.01). Cytokines measurements during IFN-α treatment showed a trend to decreaseing levels of IL-4 at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Levels of IFN-γ were slightly increased following IFN-α treatment (P=0.09). In patients with a complete response to IFN-α, the levels of IFN-γ were higher at 24 weeks following IFN-α treatment than that of pre-treatment (P=0.04), and the levels of IL-4 decreased markedly at 12 and 24 weeks （P=0.02, 0.03, respectively）. mRNA expression positively correlated with the level of Th1/Th2 type cytokines in the supernatant. Conclusion The expression of Th2 type cytokines is predominant in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Interferon-α therapy can modulate the balance of Th1/Th2 type cytokines, and this is related to its clinical effect. Levels of Th1/Th2 type cytokines could be a predictor of clinical response during Interferon -α treatment.