DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2025.5.30
H.I. Yupatau, V.A. Pryshchepenka
The role of interleukins-10 and -17 balance in the development of liver cirrhosis
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2025;24(5):30-35.
Abstract.
The development of liver cirrhosis is caused by chronic inflammation, regulated by the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The role of interleukin-17 and interleukin-10 in the development and progression of liver diseases is investigated in our study. Interleukin-17 is an important proinflammatory cytokine involved in the development of liver fibrosis. Interleukin-10, meanwhile, is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that prevents the progression of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. An imbalance in IL-10 and IL-17 levels in patients with liver disease may be one mechanism for progression.
Objectives. To establish the role of the interleukin-10 and interleukin-17 levels ratio in the diagnosing liver cirrhosis.
The study was conducted according to a controlled case-control study protocol. Eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis, 41 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and 15 apparently healthy individuals were examined.
A statistically significant increase in pro-inflammatory interleukin-17 in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to both patients with chronic hepatitis (p<0.01) and the comparison group (p<0.05) was registered in our study. At the same time, a statistically significant increase in anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (p<0.01) was observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Thus, both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are elevated in liver cirrhosis, and an imbalance toward a predominance of pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a mechanism for disease progression.
The index reflecting the ratio of interleukin-17 to interleukin-10 was developed by us. Predominance of pro-inflammatory interleukin-17 is characteristic of liver cirrhosis. Thus, an increase in the index above 27.89 in our study showed sufficient diagnostic effectiveness in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis (sensitivity 66.67%, specificity 88.24%).
Keywords: interleukin-10, interleukin-17, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis.
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Submitted 14.07.2025
Accepted 21.10.2025
Information about authors:
H.I. Yupatau – Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, head of the Chair of Internal Diseases Propedeutics, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5844-5369
Viachaslau A. Pryshchepenka – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Internal Diseases Propedeutics, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1097-918X, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра..
