Serum Profile of T Helper 1 and T Helper 2 Cytokines in Hepatitis C Virus Infected Patients

authors:

avatar Masoomeh Sofian 1 , avatar Arezoo Aghakhani 2 , avatar Ali Asghar Asghar Farazi 1 , avatar Mohammad Banifazl 3 , avatar Ali Eslamifar 2 , avatar Niloofar Rashidi 2 , avatar Akbar Khadem Sadegh 2 , avatar Amitis Ramezani 2 , *

Tuberculosis and Pediatric Infectious Research Center (TPIRC), Arak University of Medical Sciences, IR Iran
Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, amitisramezani@hotmail.com, IR Iran
Iranian Society for Support of Patients With Infectious Diseases, IR Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.12, issue 12; 6156
published online: December 29, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: May 20, 2012
accepted: June 15, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.6156

how to cite: Sofian M, Aghakhani A, Farazi A A, Banifazl M, Eslamifar A, et al. Serum Profile of T Helper 1 and T Helper 2 Cytokines in Hepatitis C Virus Infected Patients. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(12):6156. https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.6156.

Abstract

Background:

T-helper (Th) lymphocyte cytokine production may be important in the immune pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Th1 cytokines such as; interleukin- 2 (IL-2), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) are necessary for host antiviral immune responses, while Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) can inhibit the development of these effector mechanisms.

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to assess the serum profile of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in treated and non-treated HCV infected individuals.

Patients and Methods:

This study was carried out in 63 HCV infected patients (31 under treatment and 32 untreated) and 32 matched HCV-sero negative healthy subjects. Serum samples were checked with an enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma.

Results:

Levels of circulating IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma were significantly elevated in HCV patients versus normal controls (2 822.6 1 259.92 vs. 950.8 286.9 pg/mL; 1 987 900.69 vs. 895.91 332.33 pg/mL; 1 688.5 1 405.1 vs. 519.03 177.64 pg/mL and 1 501.9 1 298 vs. 264.66 71.59 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). The serum levels of all cytokines were significantly lower in the patients under treatment than those of the untreated patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

On the basis of our data, the simultaneous increase of Th1 and Th2 related cytokines may indicate that both Thl and Th2 cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of HCV infections. Moreover, this activated T-cell response in HCV infected patients may be regulated by treatment.

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