Impact of recombinant human interferon-α2b on serum hepcidin levels in hepatitis C patients:underlying mechanism
Objective To investigate the impact of recombinant human interferon-α2b(rhIFN-α2b)on serum hepcidin levels in hepatitis C patients,and to preliminarily explore its imderlying mechanism.Methods A total of 35 hepatitis C patients from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected and divided into a treatment group(n=20)and an untreated group(n=15)based on whether they received rhIFN-α2b treatment in the last 3 months.Serum hepcidin levels were measured in both groups.Additionally,serum hepcidin,signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),and its phosphorylation(pSTAT3)were measured in hepatogenic HepG2 cells treated with 0,50,100,200,and 400ul of rhIFN-α2b for 24 hours.Changes in mRNA expression of STAT3 and correlation analyses were performed.Results Serum hepcidin levels in the treated group was significantly lower(94.91±16.28)ng/mL compared to the untreated group(107.99±17.06)ng/mL,with the difference being statistically significant(t=4.396,P＜0.05).HepG2 cells treated with rhIFN-α2b at doses of 0 μL(control group),50 μL(group 1),100 μL(group 2),200 μL(group 3),and 400 μL(group 4)exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in hepcidin.mRNA expression:(1.00±0.23),(0.67±0.12),(0.28±0.04),(0.25±0.03),and(0.17±0.02),respectively.The differences in hepcidin mRNA expression among all groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Pair comparisons showed that group 4(400 μL)had significantly lower hepcidin mRNA levels than the control group,group 1,group 2 and group 3.Groups 2 and 3 also had significantly lower levels compared to the control group and group 1.Group 1had significantly lower levels than the control group(P＜0.05).STAT3 mRNA expression levels in HepG2 cells for the control group,group 1,group 2,group 3,and group 4 were(0.72±0.11),(0.74±0.12),(0.68±0.09),(0.66±0.06),and(0.66±0.08),respectively,with no statistical differences(P＞0.05).The pSTAT3 protein levels for rhIFN-α2b at doses of 50 μL,100 μL,200 μL,and 400 μL were(0.76±0.14),(0.65±0.06),(0.57±0.07),and(0.54±0.05),respectively,all lower than the control group.However,there were no significant differences in pSTAT3 protein levels among the treated groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion After rhIFN-α2b treatment,the serum hepcidin levels in hepatitis C patients are down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner.This down-regulation may be associated with the inhibition of phosphorylation activation in the STAT3 pathway.
Recombinant human interferon-α2bHepatitis CHepcidinMechanism
万方数据
维普
