Serum levels of Th17 associated cytokines in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

The Th17-mediated immune response was investigated in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) by determining the serum levels of the cytokines involved in the induction of the Th17 response (TGF-β and IL-6), the cytokines produced by Th17 cells (IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22) and the cytokines whose production is stimulated by Th17 lymphocytes (IL-8 and GM-CSF). We investigated the relationships among the levels of these cytokines by assessing clinical findings, liver histology and viremia. Sixty untreated patients and 28 healthy individuals were included in the study. Cytokine levels were determined using ELISA. Differences between HCV and control groups were identified in the median levels of IL-17F (controls=172.4 pg/mL; HCV=96.8 pg/mL, p<0.001) and IL-8 (controls=30.1 pg/mL; HCV=18.1 pg/mL, p<0.05). IL-6 levels were higher in patients presenting moderate liver necroinflammation than in patients with mild or no liver necroinflammation (p<0.05). IL-17F levels were increased in patients that had increased ALT levels. Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between IL-17F and IL-22 levels in the two groups investigated, and the IL-17F/IL-22 ratio was lower in the patients infected with HCV (p<0.0001). Patients with low HCV viral loads had higher median levels of IL-8 (32.5 pg/mL) than did patients with high HCV loads (16.7 pg/mL, p<0.05). These results suggest that in chronic hepatitis C infection, IL-17F and IL-8 could be associated with the control of liver injury and infection, respectively.

Normocaloric low cholesterol diet modulates Th17/Treg balance in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

“…Confirming several studies [36][37][38], we observed a remarkable higher frequency of Th17 cells in blood of CHC patients with respect to healthy individuals, and a slight increase in NAFLD/NASH subjects. Interestingly, NLCD was able to induce a consistent reduction of Th17-cell frequency in CHC patients, but not in our cohorts of NAFLD/NASH patients.…”

Associations between serum interleukin-23 levels and clinical characteristics in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…[21][22][23][24] Cytokine ratios within the same axis may also be a marker of immune pathway activation, as has been reported for the IL-17F/IL-22 ratio in chronic hepatitis C infection 25 or for the IL-17/transforming growth factor-b ratio in schizophrenia. 26 A significant positive correlation has been demonstrated between the IL-17/IL-6 ratio and SLE disease activity as assessed by SLEDAI-2k, 27 which is consistent with data from the present study showing a positive correlation between the IL-17/ IL-23 ratio and disease activity.…”

“…Reverse transcription was performed using a TaqMan Õ Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) in a total reaction volume of 100 ml with 2 mg of total RNA. Quantitative realtime reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed in a total reaction volume of 25 …”

Levels of Interleukin-17 and Vitamin D and Their Correlation in Viral Hepatitis Patients

“…[12] Results also showed a highly significant decrease (P <0.01) in trimmed mean of IL-17 serum levels in HBV patients when compared to HCV patients group (Z = -4.321). In agreement, Sousa [15] found the mean of IL-17 serum level in HCV patients to be (96.8ng/L) while Du [16] found the mean of Il-17 in HBV patients to be (38.9 ng/L), which is lower than in HCV cases. The reason of this difference could be attributed to stimulation of Th17 cells by the HCV through expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) which is essential factor in the differentiation and proliferation of Th17 cells.…”