ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the expression of interleukin-21 (IL-21) in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its association with HBV-DNA and ALT. Methods Clinical dates and blood specimen were collected from 25 unrelated healthy controls (HC) and 101 independent chronic HBV infected patients, including 25 patients in immune tolerant phase (IT), 25 in immune clearance phase (IC), 26 patients in inactive HBV carrier state (IA) and 25 patients in immune reactive phase (IR). Serum IL-21 levels were measured by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). IL-21 mRNA and IL-21 receptor mRNA were measured by real-time PCR. Results Chronic HBV-infected patients had higher levels of serum IL-21 and IL-21 mRNA , with P <0.001 for both. In subgroup analysis, both serum IL-21 and IL-21 mRNA levels in IC, IR were higher than those in IT, IA and HC (all P < 0.001). Serum IL-21 level in IA was higher than that in HC and IT (P <0.001, P = 0.036). IL-21R mRNA levels were different between groups. Serum IL-21 level was associated with HBV-DNA (r = -0.472, P < 0.001), but not with ALT. Conclusion IL-21, up-regulated in chronic HBV infection, is associated with immune activity and may play a key role in HBV control.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relation between apolipoproteinC3 (-482C>T ) polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its clinical characteristics in the Han Chinese population. Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE)were used to analyse the genotype of the apolipoproteinC3 (-482C>T) variants. Results No relation between the apolipopreoteinC3 (-482C>T) polymorphism and NAFLD was found. However, NAFLD patients carrying T allele were more susceptible to insulin resistant (IR), hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) than homozygote CC genotype. Conclusion There was no relation between the apolipopreoteinC3 (-482C>T)polymorphism and NAFLD in Han Chinese population, but T-carriers were more susceptible to metabolic disorder.