title: [Effect of different therapeutic regimens on serum interleukin-21 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect serum interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving different therapeutic regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 198 patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B were divided into 3 groups according to the therapeutic regimens, namely interferon (IFN)-treated group (IFN group, n∓38), nucleoside analogue-treated group (NA group, n∓72) and untreated group (control group, n∓88). IL-21 and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were detected in these patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the liver function indices were measured with an auto-biochemical analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum IL-21 levels in Con and IFN groups were significantly higher than those in NA group (102.29∓14.03, 123.01∓38.26, and 48.10∓7.06 pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05). When all the patients were regrouped according to the status of HBeAg, serum IL-21 level was 114.83∓19.88 pg/ml in HBeAg-negative group (n∓105), significantly higher than that of 61.53∓6.61 pg/ml in HBeAg-positive group (n∓93) (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed no significant correlations between IL-21 and liver function indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immunomodulator IFN might be capable of increasing serum IL-21 levels, while nucleoside analogues can decrease IL-21 level in patients with chronic hepatitis B. HBeAg-negative patients have a significantly higher serum IL-21 level, suggesting that the expression of HBeAg might result in IL-21 depression.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. zoum2000@163.com
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Minmin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shuwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; D009705:Nucleosides; D007372:Interferons; D000098546:Interleukin-21