title: Increased frequency of circulating Th17 cells in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T helper (Th) 17 cells participate in the pathogenesis of liver diseases but their exact role in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) still remains obscure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This present study was aimed to characterize the circulating Th17 cells and to analyze their association with disease progression in ACHBLF.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study consisted of 40 ACHBLF patients, 40 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 20 healthy controls. The frequency of peripheral Th17 cells and IL-17 mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were estimated by flow cytometry and relative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the frequency of peripheral Th17 cells, as well as the level of IL-17 mRNA in PBMCs, was significantly increased in ACHBLF patients compared with CHB patients and healthy controls. In ACHBLF patients, the frequency of Th17 cells was positively correlated with serum total bilirubin (r = 0.392, P = 0.012) and model for end-stage liver disease scores (r = 0.383, P = 0.015), but negatively correlated with prothrombin activity (r = -0.317, P = 0.046). The same trend was observed as for relative expression of IL-17. Furthermore, the frequency of Th17 cells and IL-17 mRNA level were significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors in ACHBLF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that Th17 cells as well as IL-17 might be related with disease severity and prognosis in ACHBLF patients.
authors: Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Wenhuaxi Road 107#, 250012 Jinan, China.
authors: Li-Yuan
authors: LY
authors: Wang
authors: Qing-Hua
authors: QH
authors: Meng
authors: Zhi-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Zou
authors: Yu-Chen
authors: YC
authors: Fan
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Han
authors: Zhao-Xia
authors: ZX
authors: Qi
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Ge
authors: Ai-Ling
authors: AL
authors: Xu
authors: Si-Kui
authors: SK
authors: Wang
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger