Mediators of the immune system and their possible role in pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections

Chronic viral hepatitis, a major cause of cirrhosis and liver transplantation is considered a global, life-threatening disease. Although host immune responses are crucial for viral elimination, they may also contribute to the pathogenesis of these infections. The present study was carried out to evaluate the levels of circulating immune mediators in chronic viral hepatitis patients of different aetiology and their possible role in disease pathogenesis. The study was divided into 3 groups: group 1 comprised patients with chronic HBV infections (n=60), group 2 included patients with chronic HCV infections (n=60) while group 3 consisted of healthy age- and gender-matched controls (n=60). The mean age of all the subjects in the study was 35 years. Total viral load was quantified from the EDTA plasma, and correlation studies were performed with circulating Th1/Th2 cytokines, levels of C reactive protein, glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase and levels of circulating nucleosomes. A strong positive correlation of Th2 cytokines and glutathione reductase with increasing viral load in HBV and HCV was observedhowever, no significant correlation of other immune mediators was reported. Herein, our results highlight that circulating immune mediators play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis. Future studies, along with ours will pave the way forward for identifying and designing novel translational biomarker based strategies to prevent the progression and long term consequences of chronic hepatitis