The Change Of The Cytokines Related To Helper T Lymphocyte 1, 2 And 17 In The Patients With Hepatitis B Virus Infection

【Objective】To explore the expression of interferon(IFN)-γ,interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-17 in the patients with chronic infection of hepatitis B virus(HBV),which can reflect the function of helper T lymphocyte(Th)1,Th2 and Th17 cells.【Methods】There were 34 chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients,31 liver cirrhosis (LC)patients,26 primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients,22 chronic severe hepatitis patients and 15 normal controls involved in the research.The levels of IFN_-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 in serum of the patients with chronic HBV infection and normal controls were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA).And the data were analyzed via t-test and Pearson correlation analysis.【Results】(1)The level of IFN-γin the serum of the CHB group(44.43±32.48 pg/mL, P=0.004)was lower than that in normal controls(78.75±12.76 pg/mL),and the level of the chronic severe hepatitis group(150.65±13.47 pg/mL,P＜0.01)was significantly higher than that in normal controls.(2)The level of IL-4 in the serum of the CHB group(40.65±9.76 pg/mL, P=0.001)was higher than that in normal controls(30.90±4.44 pg/mL),and the level of the HCC group(26.77±2.86 pg/mL,P=0.011)was lower than that in normal controls.(3)The level of IL-17 in the CHB group(38.97±11.45 pg/mL,P=0.012),the LC group(63.32±21.34 pg/mL,P＜0.01),the HCC group(46.16±14.99 pg/mL,P=0.002), the chronic sever hepatitis B group(43.27±4.05 pg/mL,P＜0.01)were all higher than that in normal controls(27.63±8.54 pg/mL).(4)IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio of the CHB group(1.08±0.66,P＜0.01)was lower than that of normal controls(2.60±0.60),and the ratio in the chronic severe hepatitis B group (4.81±0.87,P＜0.01)was higher than that in normal controls group.(5)IFN-γ/IL-17 ratio in the CHB(1.13±0.85,P＜0.01),the LC(1.69±0.92, P=0.010)and the HCC group(1.76±0.84,P=0.011)were all lower than that in normal controls group(2.66±0.70),and the ratio in the chronic severe hepatitis B group was higher than that in normal controls group(3.68±0.42,P=0.004).(6)IL-4/IL-17 ratios in the LC(0.72±0.38,P=0.026)and the HCC group (0.63±0.19,P＜0.01)were both lower than that in normal controls(1.04±0.23).【Conclusions】(1)In the CHB patients the expression of IFN-γwas lower than normal controls, and the dominant expression of IL-4 was found in the CHB patients,which was higher than all other groups.That suggests in the CHB patients the function of Thl s is inhibited,and that the function of Th2s enhances.(2)In the LC patients the expression of IL-17 was obviously higher than other groups,suggesting that the function of Th17s is active.It is possible that IL-17 have something to do with liver fibrosis.(3)In the HCC patients the expression of IL-4 was lower than all other groups, suggesting that the function of Th2s decreases in HCC.(4)In the chronic severe hepatitis B patients the expression of IFN-γwas obviously higher than other groups,suggesting that there is a highly enhanced function of Thl s in this disease process.(5)The expression of IL-17 in all the patients were higher than normal controls, suggesting that Th17s play an important role in the disease development due to chronic HBV infection.