Expression of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines responding to HBsAg and HBxAg in chronic hepatitis B patients.
10.3346/jkms.1999.14.2.175
- Author:
Millina LEE
1
;
Myung Ae LEE
;
Sung Ki LEE
;
Minsik SON
;
Sung Won CHO
;
Sun PARK
;
Hyung Il KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. millina@madang.ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B virus;
Hepatitis B surface antigen;
Cytokines;
Hepatitis B, chronic
- MeSH:
Cytokines/genetics;
Cytokines/biosynthesis*;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/pharmacology;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology*;
Hepatitis B, Chronic/immunology*;
Human;
Interferon Type II/genetics;
Interferon Type II/biosynthesis;
Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology;
Liver/cytology;
Recombinant Fusion Proteins/pharmacology;
Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology;
Th1 Cells/immunology*;
Th1 Cells/drug effects;
Th2 Cells/immunology*;
Th2 Cells/drug effects;
Trans-Activators/pharmacology;
Trans-Activators/immunology*
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
1999;14(2):175-181
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The cytokine pattern on viral antigen recognition is believed to exert a profound influence on the resolution of viral infections and viral clearance. This study was initiated to investigate whether a cytokine imbalance oriented toward Th2 type response plays a role in chronic hepatitis B. Cytokine profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells associated with chronic hepatitis B were analysed by RT-PCR. Upon HBsAg stimulation, expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 was detected in 41%, 8%, 41%, and 50% of the patients, respectively. Among these cytokines, the expression of IFN-gamma was associated with high levels of serum AST/ALT. However, we could not prove that Th2 type cytokines had a protective effect on hepatocytes. Upon HBxAg stimulation, there was no recognizable association of cytokine patterns with AST/ALT levels. In conclusion, production of a Th1 cytokine, IFN-gamma, by HBsAg-reactive cells was associated with hepatocyte damage in chronic hepatitis B, while no counteracting effect of Th2 cytokines produced by those cells was observed.
