Abstract
The imbalance of T-helper (Th) lymphocyte cytokine production may play an important role in immunopathogenes is of persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To know whether an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines is present in chronic HCV infection, serum levels of Th1 cytokines , interferon gamma (IFN-γ ) and interleukin (IL)-2, and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were measured using enzyme - linked immunosorbent as say in this study. Eighteen individuals with chronic HCV infection, 11 healthy subjects as normal controls and 10 chronic HBV infected patients as disease controls were observed. The results showed that the leve ls of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were significantly increased inchronic HCV infected patients compared with normal controls (IL-4: 30.49 ± 17.55 vs . 14.94 ± 13.73, pg/ml,