Serum inflammatory cytokine levels in children with perinatal HCV infection

O. V. Pervishko; I. N. Zakharova

doi:10.21518/ms2025-383

Serum inflammatory cytokine levels in children with perinatal HCV infection

O. V. Pervishko, I. N. Zakharova

https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-383

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Abstract

Introduction. The search for biomarkers involved in the formation of chronic viral hepatitis C in children will allow us to determine the further prognosis of the pathology.

Аim. To study and evaluate the levels of serum proinflammatory cytokines IL-1_β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-_α in young children with perinatal contact for HCV infection.

Materials and мethods. A retrospective observational study was conducted: Group 1 included 59 children under 3 years of age with perinatal exposure to HCV infection; Group 2 included 28 patients with established chronic hepatitis C; and Group 3, a control group consisting of 30 "conditionally healthy" children. Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1_β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-_α) were measured using ELISA and the Vector-Best test system (St Petersburg).

Results. In children with perinatal HCV contact, there was a significant increase in IL-6 to 2.278 pg/ml (p = 0.003), while the concentration of IL-18 was significantly lower compared to healthy children (p < 0.05). IL-1_β and TNF-_α were at the level of control values, p = 0.115 and p = 0.448, respectively. The results of logistic regression determined that with an increase in IL-18 by 1 pg/ml in patients with perinatal contact for HCV infection, the probability of formation of perinatal contact decreased by 1.29 times. These results indicate the participation of IL-18 in the mechanisms of the implementation of chronic forms of HCV infection. Patients with the realized chronic viral hepatitis C had a significant increase in IL-1_β, IL-6, TNF-_α (p < 0.001), IL-18 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion. The imbalance of cytokines in the blood of children with perinatal HCV contact was characterized by an excess of IL-6 and a deficiency of IL-18, with normal levels of IL-1_β and TNF-_α. In patients with chronic viral hepatitis C, the levels of all studied cytokines were significantly higher than in the control group. Determination of serum concentrations can be used to monitor and predict the development of chronic hepatitis C.

Keywords

children, perinatal contact with HCV infection, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-18

About the Authors

O. V. Pervishko

Kuban State Medical University
Россия

Olesya V. Pervishko, Сand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Pediatrics No. 1

4, Mitrofan Sedin St., Krasnodar, 350063

I. N. Zakharova

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education
Россия

Irina N. Zakharova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Honored Doctor of Russia, Head of the Department of Pediatrics named after Academician G.N. Speransky

2/1, Bldg. 1, Barrikadnaya St., Moscow, 125993

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Review

For citations:

Pervishko OV, Zakharova IN. Serum inflammatory cytokine levels in children with perinatal HCV infection. Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council. 2025;(19):255–261. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-383

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