Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes and its relationship with disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods Immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry assay were used to measure the frequency of CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes and its expression of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) from CHB patients. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was also measured in CHB group. Results Frequency of CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes in peripheral blood of CHB patients was significantly higher than those in health controls and CHB patients in immune tolerant phase. Proportions of circulating CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes were positively correlated with serum alanine transaminase levels (R=0.739, P<0.01), while negatively correlated with HBV DNA loads (R=-0.283, P=0.008). CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes showed increased expression of TLR2 compared with other subpopulations. After LPS stimulation, CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes produced significantly more IL-6 than that in CD14^highCD16^- and CD14^lowCD16⁺ monocytes. Conclusion CD14^highCD16⁺ monocytes might play an important role in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced liver injury.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis B; CD16; TLR2; Monocytes