Z Gastroenterol 2009; 47 - A73
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1224052

Increased IL-10, TNF-Alpha, IFN-Gamma production of activated NK cells in chronic HCV infection

G Pár 1, L Szereday 2, A Miseta 3, G Hegedűs 4, Z Szereday 4, Á Vincze 1, A Pár 1
  • 1First Department of Medicine, University of Pecs
  • 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pecs
  • 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pecs
  • 4Department of Pathology, Baranya County Hospital, Pecs, Hungary

Background: Altered NK cell activity in chronic HCV infection is still controversial, since both impaired and intact NK cell function have been described. The aim of the study was to analyse cytokine production of activated NK and cytotoxic T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty patients with chronic HCV infection (10 chronic HCV hepatitis, 10 HCV RNA+ patients with normal ALT) and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. CD56+CD3- NK cells, and CD8+CD3+ cytotoxic T cells were separated by magnetic beads from peripheral blood and after PMA+ionomycin stimulation their IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNFalpha, IFNgamma production were determined by FACS-CBA assay.

Results: NK cells produced significantly higher amount of IL-10, TNFa, IFNgamma

in chronic HCV hepatitis (IL-10: 3ng/ml, TNFa: 1184ng/ml, IFNgamma: 1219ng/ml) compared to controls (IL-10: 1ng/ml, TNFalpha: 496ng/ml, IFngamma: 1022ng/ml). Activation of the cytotoxic T cells resulted in increased production of all cytokines in chronic HCV hepatitis (IL-2: 1707ng/ml, IL-4: 92ng/ml, IL-5: 207ng/ml, IL-10: 20,2ng/ml, TNFalpha:1262ng/ml, IFN:1016ng/ml) compared to controls (IL-2: 1375ng/ml, IL-4: 9,3ng/ml, IL-5: 32,5ng/ml IL-10: 5,9ng/ml TNFalpha:524ng/ml, IFN:974ng/ml). NK cell and cytotoxic T cell IL-4, IL-10, TNFalpha production were significantly higher in HCV RNA+ patients with normal ALT compared to chronic HCV hepatitis patients.

Conclusion:

In chronic HCV hepatitis activated NK cells IL-10, TNFalpha and IFNgamma production was enhanced. Since in chronic HCV infection, normal ALT was associated with increased IL-4, TNFalpha production of NK cells and increased IL-10 production of cytotoxic T cells, it suggest that the cytokine production of these cells might play important role in the pathogenesis of liver inflammation.