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 |
