Open Access

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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

Maroua Chaouali^1,2, Mouna Ben Azaiez¹, Aymen Tezeghdenti¹, Besma Yacoubi-Oueslati², Ezzedine Ghazouani¹, Radhia Kochkar¹

1 Department of Immunology, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
2 El Manar University, Laboratory of Mycology Pathologies and Biomarkers, 1092 Tunis, Tunisia

* Corresponding Author: M. Chaouali,

European Cytokine Network 2020, 31(3), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.1684/ecn.2020.0450

Accepted 15 May 2020;

Abstract

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-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, IFN-γ, TNF-α, 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-α (61.1 pg/mL vs. <4.00 pg/mL, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in AIH patients in pretreatment phase compared to levels after remission and in controls. HLA-DRB1*15 was significantly associated with higher levels of IL-8. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α may be biomarkers of AIH activity. HLA gene expression may play a role in higher cytokine production and could allow an earlier diagnosis and better management of the disease.

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