title: The ratio of Th-17 to Treg cells is associated with survival of patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.
abstract: Both T-helper 17 cells (Th-17) and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recent studies have suggested that Th-17 and Treg cells are increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study further characterizes Th-17 and Treg cells in the blood of HBV-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients, and aids our understanding of how the two subsets of CD4(+) T cells affect each other and contribute to survival. Blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with HBV-associated ACLF, 30 patients with CHB, and 30 normal controls (NC). The frequencies of Th-17 and Treg cells were determined by intracellular cytokine staining analysis. To observe the suppressive function of Tregs, purified CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells for 48 h, and then IFN-γ and IL-17A from the supernatants were measured by ELISA. We found that both Th-17 and FoxP3(+) Treg cells were increased in ACLF patients. IL-17A secretion by CD4(+) T cells was not regulated by Treg cells, even though Tregs exhibited significant inhibition of IFN-γ production. Most importantly, the ratio of Th-17 to Treg cells was associated inversely with the survival of ACLF patients. These findings provide new information regarding the pathogenesis of HBV-associated ACLF, and the ratio of Th-17 to Tregs may represent a potential prognostic marker for the disease.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an, P.R. China. zhaisong@gmail.com
authors: Song
authors: S
authors: Zhai
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Shuangsuo
authors: S
authors: Dang
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Zigang
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Wenxue
authors: W
authors: Zhao
authors: Layang
authors: L
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit