Cytokine profiles affecting the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis in Japanese patients

Atsushi Kamijo; Kaname Yoshizawa; Satoru Joshita; Suguru Yoneda; Takeji Umemura; Tetsuya Ichijo; Akihiro Matsumoto; Masao Ota; Eiji Tanaka

doi:10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00773.x

Cytokine profiles affecting the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis in Japanese patients

Hepatol Res. 2011 Apr;41(4):350-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00773.x. Epub 2011 Feb 24.

Authors

Atsushi Kamijo¹, Kaname Yoshizawa, Satoru Joshita, Suguru Yoneda, Takeji Umemura, Tetsuya Ichijo, Akihiro Matsumoto, Masao Ota, Eiji Tanaka

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Medicine Legal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

PMID: 21426452
DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00773.x

Abstract

Aim: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology, although several cytokines have been implicated in its pathogenesis and severity. This study investigated the relationship between circulating cytokines in the pretreatment phase and remission following corticosteroid therapy phase in Japanese AIH patients.

Methods: A total of 28 cytokines were measured simultaneously by multiple bead array technology in the sera of 40 patients with AIH collected during pretreatment and remission phases.

Results: Interleukin (IL)-12p40, interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, IL-17F and IL-18 were significantly decreased during remission from pretreatment stage levels. The level of IP-10 in the pretreatment phase was correlated with serum levels of alanine aminotransferase.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that a complex interplay of several cytokines, especially pro-inflammatory and T-helper 17 cytokines and regulatory T-cell suppression by IL-12p40 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AIH.