Cytokines as predictors for sustained response and as markers for immunomodulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Objectives: (i) To characterize serum cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), interleukin 6 (IL 6), IL 8 and IL 12 in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C, (ii) to correlate the levels of these cytokines with the degree of the disease at the basal level, (iii) to correlate these levels with the response to therapy, (iv) to compare profiles of cytokines in monotherapy (MT) versus combination therapy (CT), and (v) to compare the immunomodulatory effects of MT versus CT. Design and Methods: 47 patients were enrolled in the study. The controls were 120 volunteers (recruited from students and staff) that did not present HCV RNA positive and were not known to suffer any other metabolic disease. Thirty patients formed the other group of controls, with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Serum cytokine levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The sustained responders (SRs) have basal values much lower than relapsed responders (RRs) and non-responders (NRs) regardless of the therapy. Conclusions: Cytokines can be used as non-invasive markers for sustained response and as monitors for the outcome of therapy.