Inadequate Serum Interferon-Gamma Concentration With Its Promoter Methylation In The Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Hepatitis B Liver Failure

ObjectiveInterferon-gamma (IFN-γ), one T helper (Th) 1 immune cytokine, is demonstrated to exacerbate liver function in the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Recently, the mechanism underlining IFN-γmediates acute liver failure on chronic hepatitis b virus infection is still not fully understood. Therefore, this present study was aimed to:(1) determine the serum expression of IFN-γin the patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF); (2) identify whether the changed IFN-γprofile was associated with its promoter methylation.Patients and Methods20 patients with ACHBLF,15 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 10 healthy controls were included in our present study. The level of serum IFN-γwas determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The methylation of IFN-y promoter of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by Methylation specific PCR (MSP).ResutlsThe level of IFN-γin patients with ACHBLF (8.47±1.68 pg/ml) was lower than that in the healthy controls (14.65±3.65 pg/ml, p<0.05), but it was higher than the patients with CHB (7.53±2.59 pg/ml, p<0.05). Moreover, the level of IFN-y had positive correlation with TBIL and MELD score, and a negative correlation with PTA in patients with ACHBLF. The percentage of methylation of the IFN-γpromoter gene was higher in the ACHBLF group (60%) as compared to the control group (20%), but it was lower than CHB group(93.3%). The IFN-y level was significantly decreased in methylation group (7.83±1.39 pg/ml) as compared to unmethylaiton group (9.39±1.71 pg/ml) in patients with ACHBLF.ConclusionMethylation of IFN-Gamma promoter is associated with decreased level of IFN-Gamma in the patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure...