High levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, TNF-A, IL-23, and IFN-gamma in Tunisian patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology and several cytokines have been implicated in its pathogenesis and onset. Our objective was to determine the profile of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10 in autoimmune hepatitis and their association with HLA gene polymorphisms. Serum cytokine levels were determined in 50 autoimmune hepatitis patients and one hundred fifty controls using chemiluminescence and ELISA techniques and HLA genotyping performed by PCR SSP. The levels of IL-6 (12 pg/mL vs. 5.5 pg/mL, p = 0.017), IL-8 (24.1 pg/mL vs. 7.8 pg/mL, p = 0.006), and TNF-alpha (61.1 pg/mL vs.