Association of peripheral CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-regulatory T cells and liver pathology in hepatitis B virus-infected individuals
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6680.2013.10.006
- VernacularTitle:乙型肝炎病毒感染者外周血CD4+CD25+CD127low/-调节性T淋巴细胞与肝脏病理的关系
- Author:
Huijuan CHEN
;
Shousong ZHAO
;
Jiu JIANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
T lymphocytes,regulatory;
CD4-positive T-lymphocytes;
Biopsy;
Flow cytometry;
Hepatitis B
- From:
Chinese Journal of Infectious Diseases
2013;31(10):603-607
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the expression level of CD4+ CD25+ CD127low-regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals,and its association with liver pathology.Methods Thirty-five HBV-infected individuals and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.The frequencies of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-Treg were detected by flow cytometry.HBV-related serological tests as well as ultrasound-guided liver biopsies were performed in HBV-infected individuals.The two groups were compared by t test.Spearman and Pearson correlation analyses were performed.Results The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level of HBV-infected individuals was (34.57 ± 15.36) U/L,with 25 subjects of ALT<40 U/L.Twenty subjects were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive,and 15 were HBeAg negative.The frequency of the peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-Treg in HBV-infected individuals was (5.59 ±1.50)%,which was significantly higher than that in healthy controls [(4.85±0.95) % ; t=2.191,P=0.033].The level of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25-CD127low/-Treg was positively correlated with HBV viral load (r=0.495,P=0.003).Thirty-one subjects had liver inflammatory score ≤2,with a peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-Treg level of (5.80 ± 1.44) %,which was significantly higher than that of the rest 4 subjects who had liver inflammatory score >2 [(4.00±0.77)%; t=2.425,P=0.021].Twenty-four subjects had liver fibrosis score <2,with a peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-Treg level of (6.00±1.44) %,which was significantly higher than that of the rest 11 subjects who had liver fibrosis score ≥ 2 [(4.70 ± 1.24)%; t =2.559,P=0.015].The expression of CD4 + CD25 +CD127low/-Treg in peripheral blood was inversely correlated with liver inflammation (r=-0.539,P=0.001) and fibrosis (r =-0.488,P =0.003) in HBV-infected individuals.Conclusions CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/-Treg is associated with chronic condition and liver damage of hepatitis B.It may play an important role in occurrence,development and prognosis of the disease.