AIM:To assess the possible roles of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-6 and IL-8) in liver damage of hepatitis B.METHODS:The serum TNF-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by ELISA in 66 patients with hepatitis B and 20 healthy blood donors.RESULTS:TNF-alpha and IL-6 in all types of clinical hepatitis B were significantly higher than those in healthy blood donors (P < 0.05); meanwhile the levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in the patients with fulminant hepatitis B were much higher than those in the patients with acute hepatitis B (P < 0.05); the level of TNF-alpha was positively correlated with the levels of IFN-beta, Il-6 and IL-8 in all types of hepatitis B (r(IFN) = 0.24,r(IL6) = 0.35,r(IL8) = 0.44) and the TNF-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-6 and IL-8 were positively correlated with serum bilirubin (P < 0.05). Dynamic changes of these cytokines were observed in the course of acute and fulminant hepatitis. The level of IFN-beta peaked in the initial period of acute hepatitis and early stage of hepatic coma in fulminant hepatitis; TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 increased with exacerbation, and reached a peak when the liver damage was most serious, then decreased when patient conditions were improved.CONCLUSION:The increased cytokines were related to the inflammation of liver cells and multiple factors may play certain roles in liver damage.