Y. Itoh et al., THE EFFECTS OF PREDNISOLONE AND INTERFERONS ON SERUM MACROPHAGE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR CONCENTRATIONS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B, Journal of hepatology, 26(2), 1997, pp. 244-252
Backgrounds/Aims: Serum concentrations of macrophage-colony stimulatin
g factor (M-CSF) are increased in parallel with hepatic inflammation.
The aim of this study was to assess the immunologic significance of el
evated M-CSF in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Met
hods: The subjects included 20 asymptomatic HBV carriers and 45 patien
ts with chronic hepatitis B, including 8 undergoing prednisolone treat
ment, 10 experiencing an acute exacerbation, and 12 undergoing daily a
dministration of interferons. Results: Serum concentrations of M-CSF s
ignificantly decreased during prednisolone administration, but signifi
cantly increased following prednisolone withdrawal, similar to the inc
rease during acute exacerbation. Changes in the lipopolysaccharide-sti
mulated production of interleukin-1-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alp
ha by peripheral whole blood, or of interferon-gamma by peripheral blo
od mononuclear cells showed similar pattern. Serum concentrations of M
-CSF did not correlate with the titers of HBV-DNA or HBV-DNA polymeras
e activity. However, serum M-CSF peaked preceding seroconversion to HB
e antibody in three HBe antigen positive patients. Exogenous interfero
n-alpha, -beta, or -gamma induced significant elevation in serum M-CSF
concentrations, irrespective of changes in the serum alanine aminotra
nsferase levels. Conclusions: Increased serum M-CSF is closely associa
ted with increased serum interferons and/or proinflammatory cytokines
produced by peripheral blood cells during hepatic inflammation in chro
nic hepatitis B. This may be a consequence of the altered cytokine cas
cade resulting from the host immune response against hepatitis B virus
.