Abdou A.G.Asaad N.Y.Ehsan N.Eltahmody M.El-Sabaawy M.M.Elkholy S.Elnaidany N.F.Department of PathologyFaculty of MedicineMenofiya UniversityShebein ElkomEgypt; Department of PathologyLiver InstituteMenofiya UniversityShebein ElkomEgypt; Hepatology DepartmentLiver InstituteMenofiya UniversityShebein ElkomEgypt; Clinical Pharmacy DepartmentMSA October UniversityShebein ElkomEgypt2020-01-092020-01-0920159034641https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.12301PubMed ID 25131720https://t.ly/J3wrlScopusThe primary goal of HCV therapy is to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Many host and viral factors influence the treatment response. Cytokines play an important role in the defense against viral infections, where successful treatment of hepatitis C depends on a complex balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the presence and percentage of some cytokines (IL-28, IFN-?, and TNF-?) regarding different clinicopathological parameters including response to therapy in chronic HCV patients using immunohistochemical technique. This study was carried out on 64 chronic HCV patients (34 responders and 30 non-responders). Of cases, 54% showed IL-28 expression, which was associated with low AST (p�=�0.002) and low HAI score (p�=�0.006). Of cases, 67 and 45% showed IFN-? and TNF-? expression, respectively, where the median percentage of TNF-? expression was higher in grade II spotty necrosis compared to grade I. Some inflammatory cytokines expressed by intrahepatic inflammatory cells in chronic HCV patients promote inflammation and injury (pro-inflammatory) such as TNF-?. Other cytokines aid in resolving inflammation and injury (anti-inflammatory) such as IL-28. The balance between these cytokines will determine the degree of inflammatory state. None of the investigated cytokines proved its clear cut role in affecting response to therapy, however, their levels varied between responders and non-responders for further investigations to clarify. � 2014 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.EnglishOctober University for Modern Sciences and ArtsUniversity for Modern Sciences and ArtsMSA Universityجامعة أكتوبر للعلوم الحديثة والآدابChronic HCVIFN?IL-28ImmunohistochemistryPegylated interferon/ribavirinResponse to therapyTNF-?alanine aminotransferasealpha fetoproteinaspartate aminotransferasegamma interferoninterleukin 28peginterferon alpha2aribavirintumor necrosis factor alphavirus RNAalanine aminotransferasealpha interferonaspartate aminotransferasebiological markergamma interferonIL28A protein, humaninterleukin derivativemacrogol derivativepeginterferon alpha2arecombinant proteinribavirintumor necrosis factor alphaadultalanine aminotransferase blood levelArticleaspartate aminotransferase blood levelcontrolled studydisease associationdisease severityfemalehepatitis Chumanhuman cellhuman tissueimmunohistochemistryinflammatory celllymphocytemajor clinical studymaleoutcome assessmentportal veinpriority journalprotein expressionretrospective studytreatment responseblooddrug combinationHepacivirusHepatitis C, Chronicimmunologymiddle agednonparametric testvirologyyoung adultAdultAlanine TransaminaseAspartate AminotransferasesBiological MarkersDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHepacivirusHepatitis C, ChronicHumansImmunohistochemistryInterferon-alphaInterferon-gammaInterleukinsMaleMiddle AgedPolyethylene GlycolsRecombinant ProteinsRetrospective StudiesRibavirinStatistics, NonparametricTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaYoung AdultArticlehttps://doi.org/10.1111/apm.12301PubMed ID 25131720