The changes of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis and aggravation of chronic hepatitis B / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the changes of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis and aggravation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Thirty-two CHB patients,44 hepatitis B virus (HBV)related acute-on-chronic liver [ailure (ACLF) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were involved in our research. The frequencies of circulating Th17 cells were detected by flow cyrometry. The interleukin 17 (IL-17) mRNA expressions in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expressions of IL-17+ cells in the liver tissues.The serum IL-17 concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorhent assay (ELISA),and the dynamic changes in ACLF patients with different prognosis were also observed.Normal distribution data were used by analysis of variance and non-normal distribution data were used by Kruskal-Wallis H test or Mann-Whitney U test.Results In CHB,ACLF and healthy control groups,Th17 cells frequencies in PBMC were (1.47 ± 0.60) ％,(3.20 ± 1.08) ％ and (0.86 ± 0.43) ％,respectively ; IL-17 mRNA were 4.32±11.77,18.32±8.21 and 1.00,respectively; IL-17+ cells in the liver tissues were (10.6±4.8),(21.1±6.6) and (0.5±0.2)/high power field; the level of IL-17 in serum were (15.88±6.51),(35.03±11.54) and (10.04±4.06) ng/L,respectively (all P＜0.05).Moreover,the frequencies of circulating Th17 cells and the levels of serum IL-17 in medium-stage and end-stage ACLF patients were higher than that in early-stage ACLF patients (both P ＜ 0.01). In ACLF patients,the circulating Th17 cells frequencies were positively correlated with international normalized ratio (INR,r=0.44,P＜0.01) and model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (r=0.44,P＜0.01).And the frequencies of circulating Th17 cells were positively associated with the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in CHB patients (r=0.51,P＜0.01).Moreover,the survival ACLF patients had an initially lower serum IL-17 level compared with the non-survivors,and the serum IL-17 level showed a gradually decreasing trend during the course of medical treatment.In contrast,the nonsurvival group exhibited a gradually increasing trend.Conclusions Th17 cell and its cytokine IL-17 may contribute to liver injury in the pathogenesis of CHB and promote the occurrence and the development of HBV-related ACLF. Moreover,the elevated levels of Th17 cells and IL-17 may indicate poor short-term prognosis in ACLF patients.