Serum levels of cytokines in chronic viral liver disease

OBJECTIVE:Activated immune cells secrete soluble polypeptides called cytokines. Altered cytokine homeostasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and the relationship between cytokines and the metabolic and clinical consequences of chronic liver disease is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of some cytokines as markers for inflammatory activity and severity of fibrosis in chronic viral liver disease. DESIGN:We investigated interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (slL-2R) levels in sera of 43 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. RESULTS:The IL-1β and sIL-2R levels were significantly higher than those observed in normal subjects. We observed that serum slL-2R levels correlated with serum transaminase levels and inflammatory activity in chronic active hepatitis. Serum IL-1β levels were positively correlated with fibrosis in chronic viral liver disease. CONCLUSION:The results suggest that serum slL-2R levels for inflammatory activity and IL-1β levels for severity of fibrosis may be suitable markers for chronic viral liver disease.