Serum cytokine profile in hepatitis C virus carriers presenting cryoglobulinaemia and non-organ-specific autoantibodies

This work investigated the serum cytokine profile (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-γ and BAFF) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with autoimmunity. Forty-seven HCV carriers and 28 healthy controls were evaluated. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Patients and controls presented similar levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-γ and BAFF (p > 0.05). Cryoglobulinaemic HCV carriers had increased IL-2 (p = 0.013), IL-5 (p = 0.018) and BAFF (p = 0.050). IFN-γ level was decreased in HCV carriers with rheumatoid factor in comparison with those that were RF-seronegative (p = 0.035). Patients with β2GPI IgA antibodies when were compared with those without this autoantibody, had more serum IL-2 (p = 0.009), IL-5 (p = 0.018) and BAFF (p = 0.039). Interleukin-2 was increased in HCV carriers with positive ANA when they were compared with ANA-seronegative carriers (p = 0.044). Interleukins IL-4 and IL-10 were not associated with autoimmunity (P > 0.05). In HCV carriers, IL-2 was correlated with IL-5 (p < 0.0001) and IFN-γ (p = 0.015), and IL-5 with IFN-γ (p = 0.015). We concluded that the serum profile of cytokines in HCV carriers presenting autoimmune markers may be mainly represented by increased IL-2, IL-5 and BAFF.