Objective: The pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated chronic liver disease is still not fully understood. The immune imbalance of cytokine profile exerts a profound influence on the resolution of HBV infections and HBV clearance. This present study aimed to evaluate the immune status of the peripheral T helper (Th) 17 and Th1 cells in the active patients with chronic HBV infection.
Materials and methods: Thirty patients with chronic active hepatitis B were included in our present study. The frequency of peripheral Th 17 cells (CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-17(+) T cells), Th1 cells (CD3(+)CD8(-)IFN-gamma(+) T cells), and Tc1 cells (CD3(+)CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T cells) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: The percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of CHB patients (1.53 +/- 0.52%) was significantly increased than that in normal controls (0.92 +/- 0.20%; P < 0.05). In contrast, the percentage of Th1 and Tc1 cells of CHB patients was significantly decreased as compared with that of control group. The frequency of Th17 cells had a negative correlation with Th1 cells, and a positive correlation with serum alanine aminotransferase in CHB patients.
Conclusion: The elevated peripheral Th17 cells were obtained in the patient with chronic active hepatitis B, suggesting its potential role in the immune activation of chronic HBV infection.