The Relationship Between Serum Cytokine and Liver Fibrosis in the Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective To explore the relationship between serum cytokines and liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB), and to discuss their role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Methods ELISA and RIA techniques were used to detect the levels of transforming growth factor-β1( TGF-β1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), Interferon -γ(IFN-γ), hyaline acid (HA), type III procollagen (PC Ⅲ) and collagen type Ⅳ(C-Ⅳ) in 95 patients with CHB, and contrast study were performed between those serum markers and hepatic pathology. Results The levels of serum TGF-β1, TNF-α, HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ in the patients with CHB were significantly higher than those in normal control group (NC), and were correlated with degree of liver damage positively. Serum levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α, HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ were positive proportion to degree of liver fibrosis (P0.05 or P0.01). Serum TGF-β1 level correlated with serum levels of HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ positively. The serum IFN-γ level was negative correlation with HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ. Conclusions The serum levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α and IFN-γ in the patients with CHB were closely correlated with liver fibrosis. Serum TGF-β1, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels are helpful to diagnose liver fibrosis.