Expression of interferon gamma and interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 in patients with different stages of chronic hepatitis B virus infection / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the expressions of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) at different stages of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection,and to investigate the relationship between IP-10 with hepatic inflammation activity and hepatitis aggravation.Methods Fifteen chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients,15 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC) and 15 chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) patients were enrolled in the study from January 2010 to December 2011 in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University.The liver samples were collected by percutaneous needle biopsy or from liver transplantation.The IFN-γ and IP-10 mRNA expressions were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Localization and hemi-quantitative analysis of IFN-γand IP-10 proteins were performed by immunohistochemistry staining.Concentrations of serum IFN-γ and IP-10 were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).HBV markers and liver function were also evaluated for each patient.Results Serum IFN-y and IP-10 concentrations increased significantly in CHB [(415.27±145.52) ng/L and (6.98± 1.12) ng/L,respectively] and CSHB [(658.33 ± 213.52) ng/L and (10.78 ± 1.19) ng/L,respectively] patients compared with AsC [(142.09 ± 47.64) ng/L and (2.4 7 ± 0.60) ng/L,respectively] patients,and were highest in CSHB patients (F=43.48,256.98 ;both P＜0.05).Meanwhile,intrahepatic IFN-γ and IP-10 mRNA and protein expressions paralleled with IFN-γ and IP-10 concentrations in the serum,which was highest in CSHB patients,followed by CHB and AsC patients (F＝693.85,210.21,433.05,214.46; all P＜0.05).Furthermore,Spearman linear correlation analysis showed that serum IP-10 level was positively correlated with both hepatic inflammation activity and serum IFN-γ concentration in CHB and CSHB patients (r =0.76 and r 0.77,respectively;both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IP-10,one important immunologic marker of regulating anti HBV activation,indicates progression from immune tolerance phase to immune clearance phase.Furthermore,it may affect the degree of inflammation and hepatitis aggravation.