SEMIQUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTRAHEPATIC CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNAS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

In order to characterize intrahepatic cytokine production, the mRNA le vels of interleukin (IL)-2, -4, and -10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma wer e semiquantitatively determined by reverse-transcription competitive p olymerase chain reaction in liver specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C (n = 23), chronic hepatitis B (n = 9), or primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 12) and normal liver (control) specimens (n = 12). IL- 4 mRNA was undetectable, Similar IL-10 mRNA levels were detected in al l samples studied, including the controls. Mean IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRN A levels were elevated in chronic inflammatory liver disease. IL-2 mRN A levels were similar in all 3 patient groups, but intrahepatic IFN-ga mma mRNA levels were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C than in chronic hepatitis B or primary biliary cirrhosis patients. This pre dominance of IFN-gamma may indicate a lower susceptibility of hepatiti s C virus to the antiviral effects of this cytokine. The presence of I L-10 in normal liver may impair the induction of antiviral immune resp onses.