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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, November 2002, p. 1372-1375, Vol. 9, No. 6
1071-412X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.9.6.1372-1375.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Concentrations of Cytokines, Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor, and Soluble CD30 in Sera of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection during Acute and Convalescent Phases

School of Bioanalysis,¹ Department of Physiological Sciences,² Clinical Investigation Institute,³ Regional Virological Reference Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela⁴

Received 11 March 2002/ Returned for modification 12 May 2002/ Accepted 10 July 2002

The immunoregulatory roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10, gamma interferon (IFN-), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), the soluble form of the IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and the soluble form of CD30 (sCD30) were evaluated in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Two groups of subjects were studied: 15 healthy individuals without hepatitis antecedents and 15 patients with HBV infection. Blood samples were taken during the acute and convalescent phases. The analysis of the samples was done by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. IFN- and TNF- levels decreased in the convalescent phase. IL-10, IL-2, and sIL-2R levels increased in the acute and convalescent phases, while sCD30 levels increased during the acute phase. The IL-4 concentrations decreased in both phases. During the acute phase, IFN- and TNF- induced increases in IL-2, sIL-2R, IL-10, and sCD30 levels in serum, which allowed the development of immunity characterized by the nonreactivity of the HBV surface antigen, the onset of antibodies to the HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs), and normal alanine aminotransferase levels during the convalescent phase. Increased IL-2 levels during the acute phase would stimulate the activities of NK cells and CD8⁺ lymphocytes, which are responsible for viral clearing. The raised sIL-2R levels reveal activation of T lymphocytes and control of the IL-2-dependent immune response. The sCD30 increment during the acute phase reflects the greater activation of the Th2 cellular phenotype. Its decrease in the convalescent phase points out the decrease in the level of HBV replication. The increase in IL-10 levels could result in a decrease in IL-4 levels and modulate IFN- and TNF- levels during both phases of disease, allowing the maintenance of anti-HBs concentrations.

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