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Abstract

Objectives: Hepatitis B viral infection is among the most common causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and a frequent viral indication for liver transplant. Cytokine-mediated immunity plays a critical role in introducing and promoting hepatitis B virus outcomes and in graft microenvironment. Interleukin 27 is a heterodimeric cytokine and a member of interleukin-6/interleukin-12 family. Interleukin-27 shows a broad range of pro-and antiinflammatory properties and plays a determining role during immune responses in combating hepatitis B virus. Therefore, in this study, the possible association between expressions of interleukin-27 gene with hepatitis B virus infection was evaluated in liver transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study from liver transplant patients with the risk of hepatitis B virus infection who admitted to Namazi Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 50 patients were selected and subgrouped to 25 hepatitis B virus-infected and 25 noninfected ones between years 2011 and 2013. The 25 healthy controls also were enrolled in this study. The presence of hepatitis B virus infection was assessed using polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols in liver transplant patients. In addition, the interleukin-27 gene expression level was analyzed using an in-house-SYBER Green real time polymerase chain reaction method. The rate of interleukin-27 gene expression level was statistically analyzed in studied patient groups and controls using the Livak (2-ΔΔCT ) method. Results:The expression level of interleukin-27 gene was increased 10.27-and 2.36-fold in hepatitis B virusinfected and uninfected liver transplanted patients compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection can lead to overexpression of interleukin-27 gene in liver transplant patients compared with uninfected ones and controls. However, further studies are needed to characterize the effective antihepatitis B virus effects of interleukin-27 in liver transplant patients.

Immunoregulatory Functions of the IL-12 Family of Cytokines in Antiviral Systems

“…In HBV infections, IL-27 favors the phosphorylation of STAT1/3; the expression of T-bet; the inhibition of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), which participates in Th2 differentiation, and the production of IL-12Rβ2; and triggers naïve T cells to differentiate into Th1 cells [9,55]. In contrast to its function in repressing HBV gene expression and clearing viruses, IL-27 can also avoid excessive T-bet activation, leading to a decrease in IL-12Rβ2 [9,56]. IL-27 accounts for a delay in virus control by promoting virus-specific Tr1-like CD4+T cells, which not only limits all inflammation but also antiviral T cell activity [57] (Table 1).…”

Study the Cross-talk Between Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Interferon Regulatory Factors in Liver Transplant Patients

“…Transplantation is the final treatment of choice for chronic HBV infection, which causes the end-stage liver diseases (3)(4)(5)(6)(25)(26)(27). Therefore, any changes in IFN production as an inflammatory response may influence the result of liver transplantation.…”

“…In spite of possible determinative association between pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with IRFs, limited studies were accomplished (15). Chronic HBV infection can lead to the end-stage liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis (3)(4)(5)(6)(25)(26)(27). Therefore, early prognosis of any change in immune factors such as IRFs molecules leads to better management of post-liver transplant outcomes and raises the possibility of graft survival.…”

The role of interleukin‐27 in predicting spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B infection

“…20 Zare and colleagues also reported in 50 liver transplant recipients, that IL-27 was over-expressed in hepatitis B infected patients compared with uninfected patients. 21 Higher IL-27 levels were found in patients with cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and patients who remained HBeAg positive. 22 It appears that IL-27 is associated with CHB activity and its disease progression.…”