Zhao-Ju Tian1, Yu Shen2, Xin-Rui Li3, Ya-Nan Wei4, Hua Fan4, Qi-Kui Ren4. 1. The Public Health Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an 271016, China. Electronic address: zhaojutian@163.com. 2. The Public Health Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an 271016, China; The Eighty-Eighth Hospital of the Chinese People Liberation Army, Tai'an 271000, China. 3. College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China. 4. The Public Health Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an 271016, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Few studies showed the changes in cytokine profiles after infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV), the most common viral liver disease worldwide. This study examined the relationship between interleukin (IL)-32, IL-1, and interferon (IFN)-γ levels and HBV load. METHODS: IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ levels in hepatitis B patients serum and HBV-stimulated PBMCs were measured by ELISA. Gene transcripts in PBMCs from hepatitis B patients and HBV-stimulated PBMCs from healthy controls were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ protein levels in serum from hepatitis B patients were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers (P<0.05). Hepatitis B patients showed significantly higher expression of IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ transcripts than healthy volunteers (P<0.05). IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ levels in PBMCs stimulated by different amounts of HBV were significantly higher than those in HBV-unstimulated PBMCs (P<0.05). Real-time PCR results were consistent with the ELISA results. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ protein and transcripts in serum and PBMCs from hepatitis B patients were higher than those in healthy volunteers. Similarly, both were higher in PBMCs from healthy volunteers stimulated by HBV in vitro. However, the changes in cytokine levels were not proportional to the viral load.
BACKGROUND: Few studies showed the changes in cytokine profiles after infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV), the most common viral liver disease worldwide. This study examined the relationship between interleukin (IL)-32, IL-1, and interferon (IFN)-γ levels and HBV load. METHODS:IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ levels in hepatitis Bpatients serum and HBV-stimulated PBMCs were measured by ELISA. Gene transcripts in PBMCs from hepatitis Bpatients and HBV-stimulated PBMCs from healthy controls were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS:IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ protein levels in serum from hepatitis Bpatients were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers (P<0.05). Hepatitis Bpatients showed significantly higher expression of IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ transcripts than healthy volunteers (P<0.05). IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ levels in PBMCs stimulated by different amounts of HBV were significantly higher than those in HBV-unstimulated PBMCs (P<0.05). Real-time PCR results were consistent with the ELISA results. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of IL-32, IL-1, and IFN-γ protein and transcripts in serum and PBMCs from hepatitis Bpatients were higher than those in healthy volunteers. Similarly, both were higher in PBMCs from healthy volunteers stimulated by HBV in vitro. However, the changes in cytokine levels were not proportional to the viral load.