Predictive effect of serum IL-10 level on HBeAg conversion in chronic HBV-infected patients undergoing nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the predictive effect of serum IL-10 level on the e-antigen seroconversion in patients with chronic hepatitis B after antiviral therapy.Methods Ninety-seven patients with chronic hepatitis B were included, including 6 inactive carriers (IC), 22 immunotolerant patients (IT), 44 HBeAg positive patients (EPH) and 18 HBeAg negative patients (ENH). Meanwhile, 11 healthy people (HC) were included as controls. The serum levels of IL-10 in healthy people and patients with chronic hepatitis B, and the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with chronic hepatitis B with different immune status were compared. Thirty EPH patients who received antiviral therapy were followed-up for 5 years. The changes of serum liver enzymes, HBV DNA, and IL-10 were detected in the 0th, 4th, 12th, 24th and 48th weeks after antiviral treatment. The baseline serum e-antigen and IL-10 levels were compared between the patients with and without e-antigen seroconversion in the first, second, third, and fifth years after antiviral treatment. Results The serum IL-10 level in patients with chronic hepatitis B was significantly higher than that in healthy blood donors, and the serum IL-10 levels in the IT group, EPH group and ENH group were significantly higher than those in the HC group and IC group. After antiviral treatment, the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), HBV DNA load, and IL-10 gradually decreased. During follow-up, it was found that a total of 9, 10, and 13 patients achieved e-antigen negative conversion in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th years after antiviral treatment. By a further analysis it was found that when compared with the HBeAg-positive group, the HBeAg-negative group had significantly higher levels of IL-10 at 2, 3, and 5 years (6.49±2.16 vs 3.33±1.22 pg/mL,P=0.062;5.88±1.99 vs 2.27±1.36 pg/mL,P=0.026;6.01±1.91 vs 1.15±0.63 pg/mL,P=0.027). Conclusion Serum IL-10 levels were significantly elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral therapy could reduce serum IL-10 levels. Higher levels of serum IL-10 before antiviral therapy predicted better treatment outcomes.

Key words: Chronic Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B e antigen, Antiviral therapy, Nucleos(t)ide analogues, Interleukin-10

GU Da, TONG Cong, WANG Wei-zhao, XIANG Xiao-xing, ZHAO Xiang-An. Predictive effect of serum IL-10 level on HBeAg conversion in chronic HBV-infected patients undergoing nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2023, 28(9): 1053-1056.

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