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Published on: September 19, 2016
Effect of methylprednisolone injection on interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma expression following hepatitis B
Peter Ughachukwu1, Paul Okonkwo1, Prince Unekwe2
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Anambra State University, Awka Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Background/Aim:
The prevalence of hepatitis B infection is high worldwide with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma as important complications. Immunosuppression, especially from corticosteroids, is often cited as a cause of poor immune response and there is documented evidence of irrational administration of glucocorticoids to children and adults. Decreased expression of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma is an indication of poor humoral and cellular immune responses, respectively. Therefore, we decided to find out if methylprednisolone injection decreases interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma expression following hepatitis B vaccination in mice.
Materials And Methods:
Mice were randomly divided into 2 groups. Daily intramuscular injections of methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg) were given to the test group while water for injection (0.1 mL) was given to the control group for 30 days. On day 6 all mice were given 2 μg of hepatitis B vaccine and they received a booster dose on day 27. On day 34, blood samples were collected and analyzed for interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma titers.
Results:
There was positive interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma response in all groups but the differences in titers were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
At the dosages and length of exposure used in this study, methylprednisolone injection did not significantly inhibit interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma expression following immunization against hepatitis B virus in mice.
