Study On The Expression Levels Of Vitamin D And Vitamin D Receptors In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B And Antiviral Related Mechanisms

Objective To analyze the expression levels of vitamin D(Vit D),liver vitamin D receptor(VDR)in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB)and its correlations with liver function and hepatitis B virus(HBV)serological indicators,and further explore whether Vit D can exert antiviral effects in vitro.Methods Serum samples were collected from 81 newly treated CHB patients and 40 healthy subjects,and the serum Vit D content was measured by electrochemical luminescence.The expression of VDR in normal and CHB liver tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.HBV-related parameters including HBs Ag,HBe Ag,HBV DNA in cell culture supernatants and the protein expressiones such as VDR,IRF-9 and Mx A in cells were detected by chemiluminescence,fluorescence quantitative PCR technique and Western blot after Hep G2.2.15 cells were treated with Vit D alone or in combination with IFN-a.Results The content of serum Vit D in CHB group was lower than that in healthy controls(HC)group(p < 0.05).The serum Vit D levels was positively correlated with albumia(ALB)(r = 0.339,p = 0.002)and negatively correlated with HBV DNA viral load(r =-0.274,p = 0.013).The serum Vit D levels was correlated with e atigen status(p<0.05),no correlation with alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT),hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag)and hepatitis B c antibody(HBc Ab).The expression levels of Vit D and VDR were related to the severity of CHB.The expression levels of Vit D in serum and VDR in liver tissue of severe CHB patients were lower than those of with mild and moderate CHB patients.The expressions of VDR,JAK-STAT signal transduction molecule IRF-9 and downstream antiviral protein Mx A in the Vit D combination with IFN-a group were higher,and the secretion of HBV-related antigens were lower than those in the blank group and the single treatment group.Conclusion There may be a decline in the function of the Vit D/VDR signaling pathway in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Vit D may play a synergistic IFN-? antiviral effect by increasing the VDR expression and thereby enhancing the IFN-JAK-STAT signaling pathway.