Analysis of cytokine network in primary biliary cirrhosis

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Th1 and Th2 cells are involved in cell-mediated and humoral immunity, respectively, and modulate the outcome of autoimmune diseases and viral infection. The aim of the study was to characterize cytokine profiles in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Total RNA was extracted from biopsy specimens of 9 cases with PBC,10 cases with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and 4 normal controls. cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription and amplified by polymerase chain reaction using primers for various cytokines. In PBC,the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-15 was greater than that in CHC.Both IL-2 and IL-4 were rarely detected in PBC,CHC,and controls. The higher expression of IL-5 in PBC was associated with eosinophil infiltration. The expression of IFN-gamma and IL-10 was reversed in PBC and CHC ; high IFN-gamma and low IL-10 in PBC,and high IL-10 and low IFN-gamma in CHC.These results indicate that the cytokine profiles are distinct between PBC and CHC,and correction of skewed cytokine expression might be a future therapeutic approach.