title: [The induced IL-21 levels in CD4(+) T cells of peripheral blood from the different clinical types of patients infected with hepatitis B virus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the levels of interleukin (IL)-21 in CD4(+);T cells of peripheral blood from the different types of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and elucidate its role in the hepatitis B pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the patients infected with HBV and healthy individuals were stimulated with or without PMA coupled with ionomycin. The levels of IL-21 in CD4(+) T cells and Th17 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PMA and ionomycin induced the expression of IL-21, and IL-21 was mainly produced by CD4(+); T cells, but IL-17A(+) IL-21(+) CD4(+) T cells were not detected. The frequencies of IL-21(+) CD4(+) T cells in the patients of acute hepatitis B and chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers were higher than in healthy controls and severe chronic hepatitis B patients; there were no remarkable differences in the proportion of Th17 cells among the different groups of patients. Furthermore, the proportion of IL-21(+) CD4(+) T cells correlated with Th17 cells in all groups except for the acute hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-21 levels, which correlated with Th17 cells, were different in CD4(+);T cells from the different types of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). The results showed that IL-21 may play a role in the hepatitis B pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Center of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China. dyr6919435@163.com
authors.forename: Yan-rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Xin-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin-xu
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang-xing
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D007378:Interleukins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000098546:Interleukin-21