OBJECTIVETo describe a novel mechanism for TRAIL up-regulation of CD4+, CD8+ T cells to participate in the pathophysiological process in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSThe serum levels of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL), IFN-gamma and membrane bound TRAIL expression on peripheral leucocytes from 58 CHB patients were examined by ELISA and flow cytometry respectively. The levels of TRAIL were compared with the baseline levels of 15 healthy controls, and correlation analysis were performed between ALT, TBil and PT, morphological change in hepatic tissues.

RESULTSThe results showed that TRAIL levels on membranes of CD4+, CD8+ T cells in CHB patients were much higher than the healthy controls (P < 0.001), which of CD4+ T cells positively correlated with serum TBil (r=0.354, P = 0.008), Serum IFN-gamma level (r=0.302, P = 0.011) and which of CD8+ T cells positively correlated with serum TBil (r=0.522, P = 0.000), ALT (r=0.393, P = 0.003), PT (r=0.385, P = 0.004), serum IFN-gamma level (r=0.307, P = 0.009). The serum levels of soluble TRAIL only correlated with serum HBeAg expression (r=0.695, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the expression of TRAIL on the membranes of lymphocytes was up-regulated, which may take part in the immunopathogenesis in CHB patients. TRAIL expression can be induced either by virus-specific protein expression or by inflammation cytokine IFN-gamma