Serum levels of interleukin‐22 and hepatitis B core‐related antigen are associated with treatment response to entecavir therapy in chronic hepatitis B. Issue 10 (26th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okuhara, Sadahisa; Umemura, Takeji; Joshita, Satoru; Shibata, Soichiro; Kimura, Takefumi; Morita, Susumu; Komatsu, Michiharu; Matsumoto, Akihiro; Yoshizawa, Kaname; Katsuyama, Yoshihiko; Ota, Masao; Tanaka, Eiji
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 44:Issue 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: E172
• Page End: E180
• Publication Date: 2014-01-26
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12287
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr12287-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>We sought to clarify the associations between serum cytokines and chemokines, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and response to entecavir therapy in chronic hepatitis B.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12287-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We analyzed six cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐2, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IL‐21 and IL‐22) and five chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) before and at 6, 12 and 24 months during entecavir therapy in 48 chronic hepatitis B patients. Quantitative measurement of HBsAg, HBcrAg and HBV DNA was performed. A virological response (VR) was defined as serum HBV DNA of less than 2.1 log copies/mL by treatment month 24.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12287-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Thirty‐nine patients (81%) achieved a VR. Serum IL‐6 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.031), CXCL‐9 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002), and CXCL‐10 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.001) were high in chronic HBV and correlated positively with transaminases and bilirubin. Before treatment, elevated IL‐22 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.031) and lower HBsAg (<italic>P</italic> = 0.001) and HBcrAg (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001), but not HBV DNA, were associated with a favorable treatment outcome. In multivariate analysis, high IL‐22 (hazard ratio = 13.67, <italic>P</italic> = 0.046) and low HBcrAg (hazard ratio = 10.88, <italic>P</italic> = 0.048) were independently associated with a VR. The levels of IL‐22 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001), HBsAg (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001), and HBcrAg (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) all decreased from baseline to 24 months of treatment in virological responders.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12287-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Serum IL‐22 and HBcrAg are predictive markers of a VR to entecavir therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p> </sec> </abstract>