Cytokine spectrum in chronic hepatitis C with an autoimmune component

The distinctive feature of HCV is it’s heterogeneity with development of the simultaneously existing and immunologically different antigen variants that posses significant potential for adaptation and abilities to avoid control of the immune system of the host organism, that probably leads to the highest level of chronization of the process in HCV infection. According to several authors the same features of pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus are basis for its autoimmune manifestations, but the role of this impairments in the development of the system disorders is not clear yet. 145 patients with blood serum anti HCV IgG positive test цere examined. Comparative analysis of levels of regulatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α) was conducted, depending on the activity of the process; the analysis showed chronic hepatitis C with an autoimmune component characterized by severe symptoms before immune inflammation together with decrease in activity of regulatory T cells. These features suggest a possible pathogenetic and clinical role of autoimmunity in viral lesions of the liver.