Serum profile of Th17-related cytokines in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Objective:To observe the serum profile of Th17-related cytokines(IL-1β,IL-6,IL-17A,IL-23,and TGF-β)in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis,so as to study the role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC).Methods:Seventy-eight patients with PBC,30 patients with HBV-related posthepatitic cirrhosis(PHC),and 60 healthy controls(HC)were enrolled in this study.The serum levels of above five Th17-related cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-17A,and IL-23 in PBC group were significantly higher than those in HC group(P0.05);the levels of TGF-β were comparable between the PBC group and HC group.The levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TGF-β were significantly lower and IL-17A,IL-23 were significantly higher in the PBC group compared with those in the PHC group(P0.05).Conclusion:Our findings indicate that PBC patients are in a status of chronic inflammation.Th17 subset may play an important role in the development and progression of PBC.