Serum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels and their clinical significance in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels with liver function and their clinical significance in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC).Methods Thirty-four ALC patients,13 patients with viral liver cirrhosis (VLC),and 17 healthy controls were included in the study.Serum levels of Th1 cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α,interferon (IFN)γ,and inter-leukin (IL)-12)and Th2 cytokines (IL-10,IL-4,IL-6,and IL-13)were measured by cytometric bead array,and their correlations with Child-Pugh classification,model of end-stage liver disease (MELD)score,and biochemical parameters of liver function were ana-lyzed.Comparison between multiple groups was made by Kruskal-Wallis H test,and comparison between two groups was made by Mann-Whitney U test.Correlation analysis was performed by Spearman rank test.Results The Th1 (TNFαand IFNγ)/Th2 (IL-10,IL-4, and IL-13)cytokine levels in ALC group were significantly lower than those in healthy control group (P<0.05),and these indices de-creased nonsignificantly as the Child-Pugh class increased.Compared with VLC patients,ALC patients had significantly increased Th1/Th2 cytokine levels except IL-4 level (P<0.05).In ALC patients,TNFα,IL-10,and IL-13 levels were positively correlated with pro-thrombin time activity (P<0.05)but negatively correlated with total bilirubin and MELD score (P<0.05);especially,the levels of IL-10,IL-13,IL-4,TNFα,and IFNγwere negatively correlated with daily alcohol consumption (P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines is significantly reduced in ALC patients and is correlated with alcohol intake and liver function damage.Monitoring se-rum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in ALC patients is helpful for clinical treatment and prognostic evaluation.