T helper type 1/T helper type 17-related cytokines in chronic hepatitis C patients before and after interferon and ribavirin therapy

ABSTRACT

This study examined the T helper [Th] 1/Th17-related cytokines, interferon [IFN]- gamma and interleukin [IL]-17 in the serum of biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C patients before and after IFN and ribavirin therapy to address whether or not viral clearance is related to Th1/Th17 cytokines. The serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-17 were assayed by ELISA on 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection before the start and 3 months after treatment with pegylated IFN-alpha plus ribavarin and compared with sera from 15 normal control subjects. IFN- gamma and IL-17 levels are higher in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis than in normal controls and these elevated levels were not directly correlated [r = -0.01, p = 0.96 for IFN-gamma and r= - 0.08, p= 0.66 for IL-17] to the viremic state of the HCV infection. In contrast to IL-17, IFN-gammas showed significant reduction after 12 weeks of treatment with pegylated IFN plus ribavirin. However, IFN-gamma and IL-17 serum levels were not significantly [p= 0.19 and =0.70, respectively] different among responders are nonresponders for pegylated IFN plus ribavirin therapy. Our finding suggest that the combined treatment with pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin downmodulates the secretion of key cytokine IFN-gammas as early as 12 weeks after treatment in infected patients. These findings could encourage new exciting possibilities for immune-based interventions with the aim of restoring functional antiviral T cell responses combined with improved viral clearance