Association of Serum Interlukin-6 and Transforming Growth Factor Beta with Response to Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Mahmoud, Hayam H.M.; Seif Eldin, Salwa S.A.; Nour, Sahar M.; Ghandour, Aliaa M.

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2023.320067

Association of Serum Interlukin-6 and Transforming Growth Factor Beta with Response to Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

² Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt; Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia

³ Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/ejmm.2023.320067

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important contributor for acute and chronic liver disorders. Drug acting antivirals (DAAs) are compounds; as sofosbuvir and daclatasvir; target HCV replication cycle to inhibit viral replication and promote gradual clearance of the virus by death of infected cells. Pro-inflammatory cytokines; as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Transforming growth factor β (TGF- β); are induced by HCV viral dsRNA and proteins. Objective: To declare if there is a relationship between serum IL-6 and TGF- β levels and response to DDAs in chronic HCV patients. Methodology: Forty patients with Chronic HCV were involved. PCR for detection of viral activity was performed before treatment, 12 weeks after the end of treatment. According to PCR results, patients were divided into: 2 non-responders and 33 sustained virologic responders (SVR). 14 healthy individuals were included as a control group. Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, albumin, AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, prothrombin time, prothrombin concentration and international normalization ratio (INR) were reported. The serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β were measured using ELISA kits. Results: In patients with SVR and control groups, mean levels of ALT, AST, albumin, total bilirubin and ALP were within normal range. In naïve CHC patients, the mean levels of ALT, AST and total bilirubin were increased, but mean levels of albumin and ALP were within normal range. IL-6 and TGF-β levels decreased significantly after treatment in SVR group. Conclusion: Virological response during HCV therapy was associated with decrease in IL-6 and TGF-β levels.

Keywords