Expression of Treg and Th17 in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients and their correlations with the mutations in HBV pre-C/BCP region

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of peripheral T regulatory cell (Treg) and T help cell 17 (Th17) in patients with hepatitis B related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF), and their correlation with HBV pre-C/BCP mutations.Methods Forty-one HBV-ACLF patients and 41 early ACLF patients were enrolled. Levels of serum interleukin (IL)-17, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-1β and IL-21 were determined using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of Treg and Th17 were determined using flow cytometry. Sequencing for mutations of HBV pre-C/BCP region was performed. Results Levels of Treg, Th17, IL-17, TGF-β1, IFN-γ and IL-1β, A1762T/G1764A double mutations and G1896A mutation were significantly higher in HBV-ACLF patients than those in early HBV-ACLF patients (t' = 8.594, P<0.001; t = 4.609, P<0.001; t=2.316, P=0.023; t=2.939, P=0.004; t=8.094, P<0.001; t=5.429,P<0.001; χ²=4.038, P=0.044; χ²=6.032, P=0.01), respectively. There were no significant difference in the ratio of Treg/Th17 and IL-21 level between HBV-ACLF and early HBV-ACLF group (t=0.902, P=0.370; t=0.294, P=0.769). Treg and Th17 levels in patients with A1762T/G1764A double mutations or G1896A mutation were both significantly higher than those with no mutations (t=2.932, P=0.004; t=2.339, P=0.022; t=3.232, P=0.002; t'=2.990, P=0.004). There were no significant difference in the ratio of Treg/Th17 between mutation and non-mutation groups (t=0.030, P=0.976; t'=0.272, P=0.787). Conclusion Changes of Treg and Th17, A1762T/G1764A double mutations in HBV BCP region and G1896A mutation in pre-C region might play roles in pathogenesis of HBV-ACLF.

Key words: Hepatitis B virus, Liver failure, T regulatory cell, T helper cells 17, Mutation

GAO Hai-bing, WANG Xiang-mei, LIU Bao-rong, PAN Chen, FANG Jian-kai, LIN Sheng-long, MA Hua-xi, CHEN Xiu-min, LIN Ming-hua, ZHENG Rui-dan. Expression of Treg and Th17 in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients and their correlations with the mutations in HBV pre-C/BCP region[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2018, 23(1): 18-21.

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