Abstract: Objective To investigate the significance of cytokine profiles and virological markers in guiding peginterferon therapy for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods Between January 2020 and May 2022, HBeAg-positive CHB patients were selected from our hospital based on meeting the diagnostic criteria for inclustion in the study. These patients underwent 48-week treatment with PEG-IFN. Clinical biochemical parameters, HBV serological indices, and cytokine levels were assessed at baseline, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks respectively.Results In our study, 117 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Of these, 46 demonstrated serum HBeAg responses,while 71 showed non-responses. Within the serumHBsAg responses group, 23 showed HBeAg responses, compared to 17 in the non-response group. Viral marker and cytokine levels were comparable between the HBeAg response and non-response groups. However, at the 24-week mark, the non-response group exhibited lower AST, ALT, TNF-α, TGF-β levels[(43.1±12.9)U/L, (56.58±8.2)U/L, (20.4±2.9) pg/mL, and(3279±960.8)pg/mL] than the response group [(33.4±7.4)U/L, (41.6±8.3)U/L, (15.4±2.8)pg/mL、and(2610.8±705.6)pg/mL],with P＜0.05. By the 48-week treatment mark, AST, ALT, TNF-α, TGF-β, and IL-10 leves[(35.2±7.7)U/L, (33.2±9.5)U/L, (16.6±3.7)pg/mL, (3180.6±1040.9)pg/mL, and(4.4±2.7)pg/mL] in the non-response group dereased less than in the response group[(27.2±6.9)U/L, (29.1±8.1)U/L, (13.8±2.5) pg/mL, (1975.0±474.0)pg/mL, and(3.0±0.9)pg/mL], with P<0.05. Notably, the IFN-γ level in the non-response group[(530.9±146.5)pg/mL] increased more than in the response group [(467.8±147.8)pg/mL], with P<0.05.Conclusion The cytokines TNF-α and TGF-β demonstrated a correlation with serum HBeAg both pre-and post-treatment, suggesting their potential as clinical markers for predicting PEG-IFN efficacy.

Key words: HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, Peginterferon, Cytokines, Virological marker