Serum level of interleukin-10 with its gene polymorphism can be predictors of response to treatment in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus

الملخص EN

Purpose : The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene polymorphism and its serum level in predicting response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus.

Patients and methods : This study was carried out on 35 Egyptian patients with chronic HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects as control.

They were divided as follows : Group I : 35 chronic HCV patients.

They were subdivided according to their response to combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin into : Group I (a) : 21 responder patients.

Group I (b): 14 non responder patients.

Group II : 15 healthy subjects as a control group.

IL-10 serum level was assessed by ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) before, during and after treatment.

IL-10 gene polymorphism and genotype were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results : A significant higher level of serum IL-10 was detected in HCV patients compared to the control group.

A significant reduction was detected during treatment and a persistent decrease was found in patients with SVR.

Low serum level of IL-10 pretreatment was associated with high treatment response.

High pretreatment of the serum level of IL-10 was associated with the severity of chronic necroinflammation and non response to treatment.

A positive correlation was found between IL-10 and serum ALT.

The frequency of IL-10 592 genotype polymorphism was higher in HCV patients compared to control.

A significant higher frequency of the IL-10 592 C / C polymorphism was found in the responder group compared to non responder.

No correlation was observed between IL-10 polymorphism and liver histopathology.

Conclusion : Serum IL-10 level pretreatment is useful for predicting treatment response in HCV patients.

IL-10 may be a useful marker to assess necroinflammation and to monitor the evolution of liver damage.

IL-10 gene polymorphism has no relation to liver histopathology.

IL-10 592 C / C genotype was more frequent in responder patients.