Objective: To explore the relationship between cytokine level and liver function among patients infected with Clonorchis sinensis.
Methods: 47 patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of Child-Pugh liver function grade: 20 in group A (3-4 scores), 15 in group B (5-6 scores) and 12 in group C (7-9 scores). Interleukin 2 (IL-2), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were examined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Automatic biochemical analyzer was employed for the determination of serum level of total bilirubin (TBL), albumin (ALB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Data were analyzed with SAS statistic software.
Results: Serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-8 and TNF-alpha from patients were significantly higher than those obtained from healthy people (P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01), whereas the IL-2 level was significantly lower than the former (P<0.01). With the affected degree of the liver, serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-8 and TNF-alpha increased, in contrast to the decrease of IL-2 level. The differences were significant between groups A and C (P<0.05). The level of sIL-2R and TNF-alpha directly correlated with that of TBL (r=0.331 P<0.05, r=0.518 P<0.01) and ALT (r=0.475 P<0.01, r=0.285 P<0.05) respectively, but inversely correlated with the level of ALB (r=-0.319 P<0.05, r=-0.665 P<0.01).
Conclusion: The infection of Clonorchis sinensis results in the reduction of cellular immune function of the patients. Certain relationship exists between serum cytokine level and liver function. Two cytokines, sIL-2R and TNF-alpha, are involved in the process of pathology.