Elevated interleukin-4 levels predicted advanced fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cytokine imbalance has been associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We hypothesized that cytokines have an important role in fibrosis development in HCV infection.

METHODS:

Data of 92 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Fluorescent Bead immunoassay was used to measure the following serum cytokine levels: Interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12. Various statistical analyses were used as appropriate.

RESULTS:

Of the 92 HCV-infected patients, 49 (53.3%) were male, 23 (25%) patients had advanced (fibrosis grades 3-4) fibrosis, and the mean age of the study population was 51.9 ± 9.4 years. Elevation of baseline IL-4 level (>490 pg/mL) was associated with liver fibrosis grade by χ test (odds ratio [OR] = 2.99; 95%, CI = 1.02-8.78; p = 0.042) and multivariate logistic regression (OR = 4.26; 95% CI = 1.13-16.02; p = 0.032). Also, IL-4 had strong diagnostic value in advanced liver fibrosis by using area under receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Assessment of fibrosis score was consequently developed from our findings and compared with other noninvasive serum markers to assess liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION:

This study provides evidence that increased IL-4 expression predicted advanced liver fibrosis in treatment of naive HCV-infected patients. The newly developed "FIL4" score had good predictive value for advanced fibrosis before treatment and this value was even strong in HCV-genotype 1b patients.

• Authors: Batbold Batsaikhan, Ming-Ying Lu, Ming-Lun Yeh, Ching-I Huang, Chung-Feng Huang, Zu-Yau Lin, Shinn-Cherng Chen, Jee-Fu Huang, Ping-Hsin Hsieh, Wan-Long Chuang, Jin-Ching Lee, Ming-Lung Yu, Chia-Yen Dai
• Journal: Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA (J Chin Med Assoc) Vol. 82 Issue 4 Pg. 277-281 (Apr 2019) ISSN: 1728-7731 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 30946707 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• IL4 protein, human
• Interleukin-4
• Aspartate Aminotransferases

Topics

• Adult
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, immunology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-4 (blood)
• Liver Cirrhosis (etiology, immunology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Retrospective Studies