Significant hepatic expression of IL-2 and IL-8 in biliary atresia compared with other neonatal cholestatic disorders

Abstract Objectives Although the exact etiology of biliary atresia (BA) is still elusive, inflammation plays a key role. Release of proinflammatory cytokines from activated immune cells perpetuates the injury and causes biliary destruction. We aimed to study interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-8 expression in liver tissue of BA patients compared with other neonatal cholestatic disorders. Methods The study included 59 infants with neonatal cholestasis in two groups; BA group ( n  = 31) and non-BA group ( n  = 28) with cholestatic disorders other than BA as controls. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and histopathological parameters were collected. IL-2 and IL-8 immunostaining was performed. Immunostaining in portal cellular infiltrate was scored as positive or negative and expressed as the mean cell count in three portal tracts. Results The mean value of IL-2 and IL-8 positive inflammatory cells was significantly higher in BA than in non-BA group ( P -values of 0.004 and 0.002 respectively). IL-2 correlated significantly with IL-8 immunostaining in both BA and non-BA group ( P  Conclusion The significantly higher expression of IL-2 and IL-8 in patients with BA compared to non-BA suggests a potential role for these cytokines in the pathogenesis in therapy of this devastating neonatal hepatic disorder.