title: [Effect and clinical significance of glucocorticoid on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with hepatitis B virus-related pre-liver failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect and clinical significance of glucocorticoid on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related pre-liver failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects of this study included 78 patients with pre-liver failure induced by HBV (cases) and 24 healthy individuals (controls). Among the 78 cases, 42 received glucocorticoid treatment and 36 did not. Between-group differences in Tregs (in peripheral blood) were evaluated by flow cytometry and statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two weeks of glucocorticoid treatment led to an increase in Treg level compared to baseline (before therapy: 2.76 ± 0.73 vs. 3.88 ± 1.60). In addition, after the two weeks of glucocorticoid treatment, the Treg level of improved patients was significantly higher than that measured at baseline (before therapy: 2.70 ± 0.77 vs 3.97 ± 1.59, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glucocorticoids up-regulate the expression of Treg cells, which may contribute to the immunological mechanism that protects pre-liver failure patients from deterioration of their condition. Careful inspection and monitoring of Treg levels may help improve prognosis of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jianhe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Erping
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids