title: Soluble MICB protein levels and platelet counts during hepatitis B virus infection and response to hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) is a protein that modulates the NK and T cell activation through the NKG2D receptor and is related to several diseases including cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study investigated the prognostic role of soluble MICB (sMICB) protein in the progression of HBV-related liver diseases and to HBV-related HCC treatment. The sMICB serum levels were measured in 266 chronic HBV-infected Vietnamese patients and in healthy controls, and correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters and with therapeutic interventions for HBV-related HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in both clinical and laboratory parameters were observed among the patient groups with different stages of hepatitis. The platelet counts were significantly decreased with disease progression (P < 0.001). The sMICB serum levels were significantly increased in HBV patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Among the patients with different stages of hepatitis, asymptomatic individuals (ASYM) revealed higher sMICB serum levels while liver cirrhosis (LC) patients revealed lower sMICB serum levels (P < 0.0001) compared to other patient groups. Notably, the sMICB serum levels were decreased in treated HCC patient group compared to not-treated HCC patient group (P = 0.05). Additionally, the sMICB levels were significantly correlated with platelet counts in ASYM and HCC patients (r = -0.37, P = 0.009; and r = 0.22, P = 0.025, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate a potential role of sMICB serum levels and platelet counts during immune response to the HBV infection, liver disease progression and response to the HCC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. tong.van-hoang@uni-tuebingen.de.|Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany. tong.van-hoang@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Hoang Van
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Tran Hung Dao Hospital, 108 Institute of Clinical Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, No 1 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam. lehuusongdr108@yahoo.com.vn.
authors.forename: Le Huu
authors.initials: le H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Tran Hung Dao Hospital, 108 Institute of Clinical Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, No 1 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam. nghiemxuanhoan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nghiem Xuan
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Hoan
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. buikhaccuong@gmail.com.|Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Vietnam. buikhaccuong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bui Khac
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cuong
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. tiensy2015@yahoo.com.|Robert Koch Institute, Seestrasse 10, D-13353, Berlin, Germany. tiensy2015@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bui Tien
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Sy
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. hoanhsonhp@gmail.com.|Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Vietnam. hoanhsonhp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ho Anh
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. dobaquyet@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Do
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quyet
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical Bureau, No 276 Nghi Tam, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam. vq.binh@yahoo.com.vn.
authors.forename: Vu Quoc
authors.initials: VQ
authors.lastname: Binh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany. peter.kremsner@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Seestrasse 10, D-13353, Berlin, Germany. BockC@rki.de.
authors.forename: Claus Thomas
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074, Tübingen, Germany. velavan@medizin.uni-tuebingen.de.|Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Medicale, P.O Box 2672, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. velavan@medizin.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Thirumalaisamy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Velavan
authors.affiliation: Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. toannl@vmmu.edu.vn.|Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Vietnam. toannl@vmmu.edu.vn.
authors.forename: Nguyen Linh
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Toan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C098080:MICB antigen