Serum interleukin 6 and interleukin 12 levels in children with chronic hepatitis HBV treated with interferon alpha.
INTRODUCTION
The course of HBV infection and the outcome of interferon alpha (IFNalpha) therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis B, is determined by the antiviral immune response of the host. The aim of the study was to investigate 1) the correlation between IL-6 and IL-12 serum levels and biochemical and histopathological changes in children with chronic hepatitis B, 2) predictive value of pre-treatment serum levels of these cytokines in patients treated with interferon alpha and 3) changes in serum levels of these cytokines after interferon alpha treatment.


METHODS
Serum levels of IL-6, IL-12 (heterodimer p70) and IL-12 (heterodimer p70 & p40 subunit) were determined by specific ELISA in 39 children with chronic hepatitis B on the first and the last day of IFNalpha therapy.


RESULTS
Serum levels of IL-6, IL-12 (p70) and IL-12 (p70&p40) were respectively within the following ranges of values: 0-1.7 pg/mL, 3.0-85.1pg/mL, 93.7-442.7 pg/mL and they showed no correlation with biochemical and histopathological changes. The pre-treatment cytokines levels in patients who responded and those who did not respond to IFNa therapy did not differ statistically. There was no statistical difference between the end and pre-treatment cytokines levels in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-12 do not reflect the inflammatory activity of hepatitis and have no predictive value of positive response to the IFNalpha therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B. Serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels at the end of INFalpha treatment do not inform of their role in immunological changes which take place while inhibition of HBV replication or virus clearance.