The significance of serum cytokines combined determination in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To discuss the significance of combined serum cytokines(IL-10, IL-6, IL-18 and IFN-γ) determination in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Methods The serum level of IL-10, IL-6, IL-18 and IFN-γ was detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 105 cases of CHB patients and 30 cases of healthy controls. The HBVDNA was detected by RT-PCR in CHB patients. At the same time, the serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer in CHB patients. Results The serum level of IL-10, IL-18 and IFN-γ in CHB patients was significantly higher than those in healthy controls(P0.01). The differences between serum levels of IL-10, IL-6, IL-18 and IFN-γ in low, medium and high virus groups are statistically significant between each two compared(P0.01). With the levels of IFN-γ increased, HBV-DNA gradually reduced(P0.01). While with the levels of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-18 increased, HBV- DNA gradually increased(P0.01). The serum levels of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-18 were positively correlated with AST, ALT, GGT and HBV-DNA in CHB patients(P0.05~0.01) whilst IFN-γ levels was negatively correlated with the AST and HBV-DNA(P0.01) but was no significant correlation with ALT and GGT(P0.05). Conclusion The changes of serum level of IL-10, IL-6, IL-18 and IFN-γ was closely related with the degree of liver inflammation, abnormal immune response and viral replication in CHB patients. The dynamic observation of the serum levels of cytokines was prompt for CHB progress.