Detection of serum TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-8 in patients with hepatitis B

AIM To assess the possible roles of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8) in liver damage of hepatitis B. METHODS The serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by ELISA in 66 patients with hepatitis B and 20 healthy blood donors. RESULTS TNF-alpha and IL-6 in all types of clinical hepatitis B were significantly higher than those in healthy blood donors (P < 0.05); meanwhile the levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8 in the patients with fulminant hepatitis B were much higher than those in the patients with acute hepatitis B (P < 0.05); the level of TNF-alpha was positively correlated with the levels of IFN-gamma, Il-6 and IL-8 in all types of hepatitis B (r(IFN) = 0.24, r(IL-6) =0.35, r(IL-6) = 0.44) and the TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8 were positively correlated with serum bilirubin (P < 0.05). Dynamic changes of these cytokines were observed in the course of acute and fulminant hepatitis. The level of lFN-gamma peaked in the initial period of acute hepatitis and early stage of hepatic coma in fulminant hepatitis; TNF-alpha, IL-6 sind IL-8 increased with exacerbation, and reached a peak when the liver damage was most serious, then decreased when patient conditions were improved. CONCLUSION The increased cytokines were related to the inflammation of liver cells and multiple factors may play certain roles in liver damage.