Abstract

Introduction

This study analyzes the changing levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines Interferon-gamma and IL-10 (as the main cytokines of T-helper-1 and T-helper-2 immune responses) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) and to correlate them with laboratory markers.

Methods

This Pilot study included 50 HCV mono-infected patients who received DAAs for 12 or 24 weeks. They were followed-up monthly during therapy and three months after the end of treatment. Liver disease was determined by transient elastography, in addition to FIB-4 indexes. Analysis of IFN- gamma and IL-10 was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

All patients carried HCV genotype-4. Sustained virological response was 100% and 92% in cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics respectively. No significant difference between groups in baseline IL-10 or IFN-gamma. In non-cirrhotics, IL-10 showed a significant reduction at week-4 after treatment start. In cirrhotics, IL-10 showed a significant reduction at week-4 after treatment start and a significant reduction at week-12 after the end of treatment. At week-12 after the end of treatment, Serum IL-10 levels were significantly lower in cirrhotics. IFN-γ showed non-significant changes in non-cirrhotics. A significant increase of IFN-γ occurred in cirrhotics from week 4 after treatment start to 12 weeks after the end of treatment. IFN-γ was significantly higher in cirrhotics at week 12 after the end of treatment. IFN-γ and IL-10 showed different correlations with laboratory markers.

Conclusion

Viral eradication induced by DAAs caused a significant change in IL-10 and IFN-gamma.

Keywords

Hepatitis c virusdirect acting antiviralsinterleukin-10interferon-gammacytokinesimmune responses