To Study The Variation Of Peripheral T Cell Subsets Status And Serum Transforming Growth Factor β₁ Level In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

OBJECTIVE: To explore the variation of peripheral T cell subsets status and transforming growth factorβ₁ (TGF-β₁) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus-infected, and the relationship between TGF-β₁ and T cell subsets.METHODS: T cell subsets were examined by direct immunofluorescence using flow cytometry in 162 patients with chronic HBV-infected and 60 health control, the results were compared between them. The results of peripheral T cell subsets were also compared among groups based on HBeAg express status and the level of HBVDNA replication. Serum TGF-β₁ level was examined by ELISA in 83 patients with chronic HBV-infected and 20 health control, the results were compared between them. The relationship between T cell subsets and TGF-β₁ level were analyzed by linear correlation.RESULTS: (1) The rates of CD3⁺T cells,CD4⁺T cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were significantly lower (P<0.01,P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) and CD8⁺T cells were significantly higher (P<0.01, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) in 83 asymptomatic chronic HBV carriers (ASC),63 chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB),16 liver cirrhosis patients (LC) than those observed in heath control group. (2) The rates of CD3⁺T cells,CD4⁺T cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were significantly lower (P<0.001 or P<0.01, respectively) and CD8+T cells were significantly higher (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) in 83 ASC,28 mild-degree CHB,20 moderate-degree CHB,15 severe-degree CHB,16 LC than those observed in heath control group, and three was a trend of decreasing the rates of CD4^<sup>+T cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and a trend of increasing of the rate of CD8⁺T cells in a order of ASC,CHB (mild-degree,moderate-degree,severe-degree),LC. (3) The rate of CD3⁺T cell in HBeAg positive group showed no significant difference from those of HBeAg negative gorup (P>0.05). The rate of CD4⁺T cell,CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were significantly lower (P<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively), CD8⁺T cell was significantly higher (P<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively) in HBeAg positive group as compared with HBeAg negative group respectively. The rate of CD3⁺T cell in HBVDNA positive group showed no significant difference from those of HBVDNA negative gorup (P>0.05). The rate of CD4⁺T cell,CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were significantly lower (P<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively), CD8⁺ T cell was significantly higher (P<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively) in HBVDNA positive group as compared with HBVDNA negative group respectively. (4) Comparing with heath control group, serum TGF-β₁ level showed no significant difference in ASC patients. Serum TGF-β₁ level were significantly higher in CHB patients (mild-degree,moderate-degree and severe-degree) and LC patients than those in heath control group, and three was a trend of increasing serum TGF-β₁ levels in the same order. (5) There was a significantly negative correlation between serum TGF-β₁ levels and CD4⁺T cells,CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (p<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively) and a positive correlation between serum TGF-β₁ levels and CD8⁺T cells (P<0.05 or 0.01 or 0.001, respectively).CONCLUSION: HBV infection influences on host peripheral T cell subsets ststus and serum TGF-β₁ level in chronic HBV-infected patients, and the increasing serum levels of HBVDNA replication and HBeAg express can make the disorder of cellular immunity advanced. And there is a close positive correlation between serum TGF-β₁ levels and the disorder of cellular immunity. TGF-β₁ is a very strong regulator, and is close connected with liver damage and fibrosis.