Serum Level of Interleukin-17 in Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children

Background/Aims : Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, generally progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that affects both adults and children. Th17 cells can produce multiple cytokines including IL-17A (also known as IL-17), IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. IL-17, a major effector cytokine of Th17 cells, is involved in mobilizing, recruiting, and activating neutrophils and leads to massive tissue inflammation. IL-17, a major effector cytokine of Th17 cells, is involved in mobilizing, recruiting, and activating neutrophils and leads to massive tissue inflammation. The aim is to estimate the serum level of Interleukin-17 (IL17) in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to investigate its possible role in the pathogenesis of AIH. Patients and Method : Ninety children, sixty of them were recruited from the outpatient and inpatient clinics of Pediatric Hepatology department – National Liver Institute from October 2011 till October 2012 and thirty of them were volunteers from a school. Investigated for the diagnosis of chronic liver diseases and serum level IL17. Results : IL-17 serum level was significantly higher in AIH group than CLD and control groups. It was significantly higher in non-responders AIH than responders. IL-17 level at cutoff value of 99.95 pg/ml can discriminate between AIH and non-AIH groups with 96.7% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 90.9% positive predictive value (PPV), 100% negative predictive value (NPV) and 96.6% accuracy. Conclusion : IL-17 serum level was significantly higher in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). New lines of treatment can emerge targeting Th17 cells and IL-17 in order to reduce the ongoing autoimmune inflammatory process in the liver and to prevent progression of fibrosis.