title: Changes in the balance between Treg and Th17 cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of Treg cells, Th17 cells and cytokines associated with Treg/Th17 differentiation in the occurrence, development and outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). To do so, we detected populations of Treg and Th17 cells and their associated cytokines in the peripheral blood of CHB patients. The populations of Treg cells (CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low) T cells) and Th17 cells (CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-17(+) T cells) were analyzed in 46 patients with low to moderate chronic hepatitis B (CHB-LM), 24 patients with severe chronic hepatitis B (CHB-S) and 20 healthy controls (HC) using flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines associated with Treg/Th17 differentiation, including IL-10, TGF-β1, IL-17 and IL-23, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our study showed that the imbalance of Treg and Th17 cells might play an important role in the occurrence, development and outcome of CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Quanzhou, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China. su2366@sina.com
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xue-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ru-Yi
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: De-Song
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Lv-Ye
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mi-Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine
keywords: ALT; AST; Alanine aminotransferase; Aspartate aminotransferase; CHB; CHB-LM; CHB-S; Chronic hepatitis B; DBil; DC; Dendritic cells; Direct bilirubin; ETV; Entecavir; G-CSF; Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; HAV; HBV; HBeAg; HBsAg; HC; HCV; HDV; Healthy controls; Hepatitis A virus; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B e Antigen; Hepatitis B surface; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis D virus; ICAM-1; IL-10; IL-17; Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; Interleukin-17; Ion; Ionomycin; Low to moderate chronic hepatitis B; Mon; Monensin; NF-kappa B; NK; Natural killer; Nuclear factor kappa B; PBMCs; PD-1; PMA; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate; Procedural death factor-1; Severe chronic hepatitis B; T; T helper 17; TBil; TGF-β1; Th17; Th17 cells; Total bilirubin; Transforming growth factor-β1; Treg; Treg cells