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Serum Cytokine Analysis Reveals Predictors of Progression from Chronic Hepatitis B to Liver Cirrhosis

F Cai1,2, Y Zhao2, Q Chen1

  • 1Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Folia Biologica
|July 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-9 (IL-9), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-2 receptor subunit α (IL-2Rα) may predict the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to liver cirrhosis (LC). These cytokines could aid in monitoring CHB patients at risk of developing liver disease.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Immunology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a significant cause of chronic liver disease, particularly in China.
  • Progression from CHB to liver cirrhosis (LC) necessitates reliable predictors for monitoring and intervention.
  • Understanding cytokine profiles in CHB and LC is crucial for identifying disease progression markers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify cytokine profiles that predict the progression of CHB to LC.
  • To investigate the role of specific cytokines, including IL-9, GM-CSF, and IL-2Rα, as potential biomarkers.
  • To evaluate the utility of a cytokine panel in differentiating CHB from LC and assessing disease severity.

Main Methods:

  • Multiplex biometric ELISA was used to analyze 48 cytokines in serum from healthy controls (HC), CHB patients, and LC patients.
  • Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest were employed to identify significant differentially expressed cytokines.
  • Independent cohorts were used for validation, and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed on identified biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • Eighteen cytokines were differentially expressed between CHB and LC patients.
  • Interleukin-9 (IL-9), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-2 receptor subunit α (IL-2Rα) were identified as key differentiating cytokines.
  • A logistic regression panel combining these three cytokines demonstrated significant predictive power for differentiating CHB from LC and correlated with the Child-Pugh score.

Conclusions:

  • IL-9, GM-CSF, and IL-2Rα are potential serum biomarkers for predicting CHB progression to LC.
  • The identified cytokine panel offers a promising tool for monitoring liver disease progression in CHB patients.
  • These findings contribute to better risk stratification and management strategies for chronic hepatitis B.

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