ISSN:
1573-2592
Keywords:
Primary biliary cirrhosis
;
cytokine
;
Th 1
;
Th2
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We characterized the cytokine profile in the liver of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Total RNA was extracted from the biopsy specimens of 9 patients with early-stage PBC, 10 with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and 4 normal controls. cDNA was prepared and amplified with a polymerase chain reaction using primers for interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -6, -10, -12 (p40), and -15. Cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-5, -6, -10, -12, and -15 were expressed in most cases of PBC. Expression rates of IL-5 and IL-6 were higher than in CHC and controls. The higher expression rate of IL-5 in PBC was associated with eosinophil infiltration. IL-2 and IL-4 were rarely detected. Semiquantitative analysis revealed that the expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 was reversed in PBC and CHC: high IFN-γ and low IL-10 in PBC and high IL-10 and low IFN-γ in CHC. These results suggest that cytokine expression is skewed in PBC and both Th1 and Th2 cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1020511002025
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