El-Sayed, M., Abdel Kader, O. (2002). Role of Cytokines as Markers for Immunomodulation in Patients with Hepatitis C. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 32(4), 833-846. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2002.205119
Mona H. El-Sayed; Ola Abdel Kader. "Role of Cytokines as Markers for Immunomodulation in Patients with Hepatitis C". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 32, 4, 2002, 833-846. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2002.205119
El-Sayed, M., Abdel Kader, O. (2002). 'Role of Cytokines as Markers for Immunomodulation in Patients with Hepatitis C', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 32(4), pp. 833-846. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2002.205119
El-Sayed, M., Abdel Kader, O. Role of Cytokines as Markers for Immunomodulation in Patients with Hepatitis C. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2002; 32(4): 833-846. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2002.205119
Role of Cytokines as Markers for Immunomodulation in Patients with Hepatitis C
1Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Microbiology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
Abstract
In hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, mechanisms responsible for liver cell damage are still poorly understood. Various attempts have been carried out to improve the characterization and understanding of the disease. T lymphocytes and immunoregulatory cytokines play an important role in the host response to HCV infection. In the present study soluble interleukin-2 receptor [sIL-2R] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-a] were measured in serum by [ELISA], and alpha fetoprotein was assessed by [RIA] in twenty patients with HCV infection. In addition, ten apparently healthy subjects served as controls. The results showed increased serum level of slL-2R in patients group [783.65] U/ml than in control subject [774.19] U/ml. In the same time, the mean level of TNF-a also was significantly elevated in patients [1.51±1.01] than in control [0.39±0.07] ng/ml. Furthermore, three out of twenty HCV +ve patients had elevated serum AFP. These data indicate that the cellular immunity is obviously changed in HCV patients which is noticed by the elevation of sIL-2R and TNF-a, moreover the presence of high level of AFP in some individuals, which might reflect early detection of complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.