Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profile in hepatic cystic Echinococcosis patients with different cyst stages

Abstract Aims The study aimed to investigate possible correlation between expression level of Th1/Th2/Th17‐type profile and cyst viability in the systemic and local immunity of hepatic cystic Echinococcosis ( CE ) patients. Methods and results Expression of Th1‐type interleukin (IL)‐2, interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, Th2‐type IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10 and Th17‐type IL‐17A was examined in the serum and liver samples of hepatic CE patients with different cyst stages. Compared with healthy controls, Th1/Th2/Th17‐type cytokines were significantly increased in the serum of hepatic CE patients. Moreover, expression of these cytokines was also at higher level in the inflammatory cell band of peri‐lesion liver (PL) tissues than that in the adjacent normal (AN) liver tissues. Interestingly, elevation of Th1‐type and Th17‐type cytokines was more evident in PL tissues of patients with inactive cysts. Relatively, Th2‐type cytokines were predominant in PL tissues of patients with active cysts. Conclusion Our findings provide new insights that Th1/Th2/Th2‐type cytokine profile was associated with cyst stages. In hepatic CE patients with inactive cysts, Th1 and Th17‐type cytokines were predominant. Comparatively, Th2‐type cytokines were more evident in hepatic CE patients with active cysts, which may provide basis for the immune response diversity in hepatic CE patients with different cyst stages.