Fukuda R, Ishimura N, Ishihara S, Chowdhury A, Morlyama N, Nogami C, Miyake T, Niigaki M, Tokuda A, Satoh S, Sakai S, Akagi S, Watanabe M, Fukumoto S. Intrahepatic expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs and interferon efficacy in chronic hepatitis C.
Liver 1996;
16:390-9. [PMID:
9021719 DOI:
10.1111/j.1600-0676.1996.tb00768.x]
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Abstract
To investigate the relationship between intrahepatic cytokine expression and interferon (IFN) response in chronic hepatitis C [CH(C)], interleukin (IL)-1 beta, -2, -4, -6, -8, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and TNF-beta mRNAs were investigated semiquantitatively by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using serial liver biopsies taken before and after IFN-alpha treatment from 24 patients with CH(C), including 12 responders and 12 non-responders. Before IFN treatment, IL-2, TNF-beta, IFN-gamma and IL-8 mRNA were associated with severe hepatitis activity whereas IL-4 mRNA was associated with weak hepatitis activity, regardless of IFN response. IL-2, TNF-beta and IFN-gamma mRNAs were significantly greater in IFN non-responders. After IFN treatment a complete response to IFN was significantly associated with the disappearance of these pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas non-responders retained the expression of cytokine mRNA as before IFN treatment. Our results indicated that IFN-alpha treatment may modulate the intrahepatic cytokine network, and this may be one mechanism of IFN-alpha that reduces hepatitis activity, aside from an anti-viral effect. A difference in cytokine network may be involved in IFN response in CH(C).
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