The levels of 2′, 5′ oligoadenylate synthetase,interleukin 2 and interleukin 12 in hepatitis B virus infection

AIM: In order to study the effect of endogenous interferon system and Th1 response modes on hepatitis B virus infection, the 2′, 5′ oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5OAS), IL-2 and IL-12 were selected as the research parameters. METHODS: The activity of 2-5OAS in peripheral blood mononeuclear cells was determined by sensitive radioenzymatic assay. IL-2 and IL-12 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared to normal control, the 2-5OAS, IL-2 or IL-12 were not significantly changed (P>0.05) in the asymptomatic HBsAg carricer group. The 2-5OAS, IL-2 and IL-12 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) in the group of acute hepatitis, but in the groups of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the 2-5OAS, IL-2, IL-12 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). Moreover, with the progression of patient′s conditions and with the complications of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the 2-5OAS, IL-2 and IL-12 decreased progressively, the 2-5OAS, IL-2, IL-12 were the lowest in guoups of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (vs each groups of chronic hepatitis, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The endogenous interferon system and Th1 response are significantly alterable in the different period of hepatitis B virus infection and among the different clinical types. The cellular immunity plays an important role in recovery from HBV infection.