mRNA expression of interleukin-17 in viral hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Objective We aimed to study the mRNA expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) and evaluate its role in the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Background IL-17 is a cytokine produced by a newly defined subset of helper T cells. The IL-17 family of cytokines has been reported to be involved in many immune processes, most notably in inducing and mediating proinflammatory responses. Recent studies have found that both natural and acquired immunity play important roles in regulating liver fibrosis, tissue repair, and recovery, which are vital for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Inflammation is a pathological hallmark feature of chronic liver diseases. Sustained inflammation then promotes liver fibrosis and as an end-stage liver cirrhosis or HCC. Participants and methods This study was carried out on 50 participants classified into the following groups: group I included 15 patients with chronic HBV; group II included 15 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis; group III included 10 patients with HCC with HBV infection; and group IV included 10 age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals as controls. Liver function tests, HBV and hepatitis C virus serology, AFP alpha-fetoprotein and HBV DNA analysis by PCR were performed for all individuals. IL-17 level was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA expression of IL-17 was determined by RT-PCR in peripheral blood. Results The results showed that both serum IL-17 level and mRNA expression of IL-17 increased in HCC patients compared with the cirrhosis and control groups. In patients with posthepatitis B cirrhosis, there was a significant rise in serum IL-17 and mRNA expression of IL-17 when compared with the control group. There was significant positive correlation between IL-17 and mRNA expression of IL-17 and aminotransferases and total and direct bilirubin in all groups. There was a negative correlation between serum IL-17 and mRNA expression of IL-17 and serum albumin in all groups. Conclusion Serum IL-17 and mRNA expression of IL-17 may play a role in disease progression and development of HCC in chronic HBV patients; they might be candidates for novel biological markers of HCC.