Expression Profiles of Circulating Cytokines, Chemokines, and Immune Cells in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus Infection
| Author | Jian Qi Lian | en |
| Author | Xiao Fei Yang | en |
| Author | Rong Rong Zhao | en |
| Author | Yan Yan Zhao | en |
| Author | Yu Li | en |
| Author | Ye Zhang | en |
| Author | Chang Xing Huang | en |
| Issued Date | 2014-06-01 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Immune cells and molecules play a vital role in initiating, maintaining, and regulating immunological homeostasis and inflammation in many pathological and physiological processes; however, the changes on expressions and functions of these cells and molecules in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not been elucidated well. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the expression pattern of different cytokines, chemokines, and immune cells in HBV infection and their association with disease progression. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled. Five immune cell subsets and 46 cytokines and chemokines were analyzed by flow cytometry and Luminex 200. Results: In comparison to healthy individuals and asymptomatic HBV carriers, expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and IL-10 were elevated in patients with chronic active HBV and had positive correlation with ALT levels. In contrast, G-CSF, MCP-3, and IFN-γ levels were significantly decreased in patients with chronic active HBV infection in contrast to carriers and healthy individuals; however, these down regulations did not show any correlation with either virological findings or liver inflammation. Although the proportion of CD4+ CD25high regulatory T cells (Tregs) was higher in patients with HBV infection than in healthy controls, no correlations were found between Tregs and other cytokines or chemokines. Conclusions: CXCR3-associated chemokines might contribute to liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis B, while MCP-3 and G-CSF were inhibited by HBV infection. Host immune response was suppressed as manifested by an increase in CD4+ CD25high Tregs and IL-10 as well as a decrease in IFN-γ. Exploiting the expression pattern of cytokine and chemokine may help to develop a better understanding of chronic HBV infection pathogenesis. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.18892 | en |
| Keyword | Hepatitis B Virus | en |
| Keyword | Cytokines | en |
| Keyword | Chemokines | en |
| Keyword | Immunomodulation | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Expression Profiles of Circulating Cytokines, Chemokines, and Immune Cells in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus Infection | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |