Expression and the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the correlation between the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and the frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and its clinical significance.Methods A total of 45 CHB patients including 23 mild-to-moderate CHB patients,22 severe CHB patients,and 15 healthy controls were enrolled.The frequencies of MDSC and Treg in the peripheral blood were studied using flow cytometry and its correlation with clinical data was analyzed by Sepearman correlation analysis.Results The median frequency of MDSC in CHB patients was 0.414％,which was significantly higher than that in healthy controls 0.226％ (Z=-2.356,P=0.018 9).The frequency of MDSC in CHB patients was negatively correlated with the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (r=-0.480,-0.478; both P＜0.01),but had no relations with hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load (r=-0.049,P=0.75).An increase frequency of MDSC was observed in CHB patients with an ALT of 5 × upper limits of normal (ULN) or less or AST of 3 × ULN or less.The frequency of MDSC in CHB patients was positively correlated with that of Treg (r =0.345,P =0.02).Conclusions The activation and proliferation of MDSC may facilitate and maintain HBV persistent infection.The change of the frequency of MDSC is in line with that of Treg,indicating that immunosuppressive functions of MDSC may be related with the development of Treg in CHB.