Interleukin-7 in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B May Have Effect on T Follicular Helper Cells and Specific Cellular Immunity.
BACKGROUND
In patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the relation of interkeukin-7 (IL-7) to either the T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) or to a specific cellular immune response is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to explore the possible relationship of IL-7 to Tfh cells and to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cellular immune response in patients with CHB.


METHODS
Ninety-one adult patients with CHB were divided into groups A, B, and C, according to the patients' IL-7 levels (low, medium, and high). Tfh cells and HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were detected with flow cytometry; IL-7 and IL-21 were determined with a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and HBV DNA was determined by using a real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The results showed that the levels of IL-7, Tfh cells, IL-21, and HBV-specific CTLs of patients in group C were significantly higher than those of patients in group B, (P < 0.01 for each comparison) and that the levels of these four parameters of patients in group B were significantly higher than those of the patients in group A (P < 0.01 for each comparison). Meanwhile, the level of HBV DNA of the patients in group C was significantly lower than that of the patients in group B (P < 0.01), and that of the patients in group B was significantly lower than that of the patients in group A (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that IL-7, Tfh cells, IL-21, and HBV-specific CTL might have effects on HBV DNA and that only the HBV-specific CTL had an independent effect on HBV DNA (P < 0.01). IL-7, Tfh cells, and IL-21 showed independent effects on HBV-specific CTL (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the IL-7 level of CHB patients may be related to Tfh cells. In CHB patients, IL-7 possibly increases the level of Tfh cells and HBV-specific cellular immune responses and thereby reduces the HBV DNA level.
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Hua
H
Zhong
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Gu
G
Xibing
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Dai
D
Yaping
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Wang
W
Zheng
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Fu
F
Decai
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Guo
G
Xiaoye
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Wu
W
Hangyuan
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Wang
W
Dong
Department of Hepatology, Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Lu
L
Zhonghua
Chronic Hepatitis B; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Hepatitis B Virus DNA; Interleukin 21; Interleukin 7; T Follicular Helper Cells (Tfh Cells)