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Changes in the Cytokine Profiles of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B during Antiviral Therapy
Ming Hui Li1, Hui Hui Lu2, Qi Qi Chen3
1Department of Hepatology Division 2, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China;Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China.
Objective:
To investigate the changes in the cytokine profiles of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing antiviral treatment.
Methods:
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients were treated with Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and entecavir (ETV). Clinical biochemistry and cytokines were detected at baseline and every 3 months.
Results:
In all, 200 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment, 100 in the PEG-IFN group and 100 in the ETV group. During 3-6 months of treatment, compared with baseline, the PEG-IFN group showed a significant decrease in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) ( P < 0.001) and a significant increase in interferon-alpha 2(IFN-α2) ( P < 0.001). In the ETV group, IL-10 and TGF-β1 decreased significantly ( P < 0.001). After 3 months, the levels of IFN-α2, IL-17A, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in the PEG-IFN group were significantly higher than those in the ETV group ( P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6 and TGF-β3 were significantly lower than those in the ETV group ( P < 0.01). After 6 months, the levels of IFN-α2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the PEG-IFN group were significantly higher than those in the ETV group ( P < 0.01), while the levels of IL-6 and TGF-β3 were significantly lower than those in the ETV group ( P < 0.01). Compared with ETV, PEG-IFN had higher HBeAg and HBsAg disappearance rates.
Conclusion:
During antiviral therapy, a change in the cytokine profile occurred; in the aspect of immune control and functional cure, PEG-IFN was significantly better than ETV.
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