Relationship between APRIL and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and clinical characteristics in patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract

Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and clinical characteristics in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods A total of 56 patients with AIH admitted from January 2021 to December 2024 in Qidong People′s Hospital were selected as the study subjects. All patients received clinical standard therapy and their biochemical response was evaluated after 6 months of continuous treatment. Those who achieved a biochemical response were included in response group, otherwise they were included in non-response group. The relative expression levels of APRIL and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The clinical data and mRNA levels of APRIL and BAFF in the two groups were compared. The correlations between clinically significant variables and APRIL and BAFF mRNA levels were analyzed. Results After treatment, Thirty-seven patients with AIH showed biochemical response, with a biochemical response rate of 66.07%, and were classified as response group, while the remaining 19 cases were classified as non-response group. The proportion of cases with concurrent cirrhosis in the non-response group was 57.89%(11/19), which was higher than that in response group (27.03%, 10/37) (P<0.05); the mean platelet volume (MPV), total bilirubin level (TBil), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) level in non-response group were (10.5±1.8) fL, (48.7±7.4) μmol/L, and (25.8±4.7) g/L, respectively, which were higher than those in response group [(8.6±1.5) fL, (43.9±6.9) μmol/L, and (21.4±4.1) g/L, respectively] (P<0.05); the platelet count (PLT) and albumin (Alb) levels in non-response group were (105.2±17.5) × 10⁹/L and (34.6±3.8) g/L, respectively, which were lower than those in response group [(132.3±22.9) × 10⁹/L and (38.7±4.3) g/L, respectively] (P<0.05). Compared with response group, the relative expression levels of APRIL and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of non-response group were higher (P<0.05). The expression levels of APRIL and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AIH patients were positively correlated with MPV and IgG levels (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with PLT and ALB levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The abnormal elevation of APRIL and BAFF mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AIH patients is related to their lack of biochemical response after treatment, and their levels are correlated with the patients′ condition.

Key words: Autoimmune hepatitis, Mononuclear cell, A proliferation inducing ligand, B-cell activating factor, Clinical characteristic

Yin Mingyue, Xu Saihua, Jiang Lili, Zhang Liuchao, Xue Xuefeng, Zhou Yali. Relationship between APRIL and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and clinical characteristics in patients with autoimmune hepatitis[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(7): 1039-1043.

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