Elevated serum interleukin-38 level at baseline predicts virological response in telbivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B

摘要

AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups; one group consisted of 43 healthy controls(HCs) and the other group consisted of 46 patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB. All patients were administered 600 mg of oral Ld T daily for 52 wk, and they visited physicians every 12 wk for physical examination and laboratory tests. Serum IL-38 levels were determined using ELISA. The concentrations of serum Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were measured using the cytometric bead array(CBA) method. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-38 at baseline in all patients were higher than those in HCs [306.97(123.26-492.79) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P = 0.019]; the levels returned to normal after the first 12 wk of treatment with Ld T [175.51(103.90-331.91) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P > 0.05]. Serum IL-38 levels at baseline were positively associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase levels in patients with CHB(r = 0.311, P = 0.036). Higher levels of serum IL-38 at baseline were associated with a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment at 24 wk(48.15% vs 15.79%, P = 0.023) and 52 wk(66.67% vs 36.84%, P = 0.044). The levels of serum IL-38 in patients with primary nonresponse at week 12 after treatment initiation were lower than those in patients with primary response [64.44(49.85-172.08) pg/m L vs 190.54(121.35-355.28) pg/m L, P = 0.036]. Serum IL-38 levels were correlated with serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels in patients with CHB during treatment with Ld T. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum IL-38 levels in untreated CHB patients reflect ongoing liver injury. Higher serum IL-38 levels before treatment indicate a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment.