Fu-Bang Li1, Xiao-Li Shu2, Wei-Zhong Gu3, Xiao-Xia Zhao4, Shou-Jiang Huang4, Hong Zhao1, Ke-Rong Peng1, Jin-Fa Tou5. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 2. Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 3. Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 4. Department of General Surgery, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 5. Department of General Surgery, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. toujinfa@zju.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is associated with an inflammatory process involving the biliary tree. This study aimed to investigate the association of T-helper cell cytokine levels with age in patients with BA. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with BA were divided into three groups according to their age (< 2 months, 2-3 months, and ≥ 3 months). All the patients underwent Kasai portoenterostomy. Blood samples were collected from the patients preoperatively, and the liver tissue specimens were obtained during surgery. We detected serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β1. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-6, and IL-10 in patients aged ≥ 3 months were significantly higher than those in patients aged < 2 months. There were no significant age-related differences in the IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expression levels in the liver tissue of patients with BA. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 showed significant age-related differences in patients with BA. Interpretation of the role of cytokines in BA needs to take patient's age into consideration.
BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is associated with an inflammatory process involving the biliary tree. This study aimed to investigate the association of T-helper cell cytokine levels with age in patients with BA. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with BA were divided into three groups according to their age (< 2 months, 2-3 months, and ≥ 3 months). All the patients underwent Kasai portoenterostomy. Blood samples were collected from the patients preoperatively, and the liver tissue specimens were obtained during surgery. We detected serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β1. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-6, and IL-10 in patients aged ≥ 3 months were significantly higher than those in patients aged < 2 months. There were no significant age-related differences in the IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expression levels in the liver tissue of patients with BA. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 showed significant age-related differences in patients with BA. Interpretation of the role of cytokines in BA needs to take patient's age into consideration.
Authors: Cara L Mack; Rebecca M Tucker; Ronald J Sokol; Frederick M Karrer; Brian L Kotzin; Peter F Whitington; Stephen D Miller Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2004-05-05 Impact factor: 3.756