title: Elevated Expression of Chemokine CXCL13 in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Links to Immune Control during Antiviral Therapy.
abstract: C-X-C-chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13), the ligand for C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5), is a major regulator of B-cell trafficking and plays an integral role in age-dependent clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the mouse model. However, the expression and function of CXCL13 in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain unknown. By use of liver cell subpopulations isolated from CHB patients, we found that CXCL13 mRNA was abundantly expressed in Kupffer cells (KCs), but not in primary hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and hepatic stellate cells. Interestingly, KC isolated from HBV-positive liver had much higher level of CXCL13 expression than non-HBV-infected controls. And its expression was induced by toll-like receptor 3 ligand poly I:C stimulation. Moreover, intense expression of CXCL13 protein and accumulation of CD4+T and B cells were evident in follicular-like structures in the liver tissue of CHB patients, which indicated its chemotactic effect on CXCR5+CD4+cells and B cells. Consistently, the levels of serum CXCL13 were significantly higher in the CHB patients than in healthy controls. Furthermore, CXCL13 concentration was increased in the complete response (CR) group during weeks 0-12 and did not change significantly during the course of telbivudine treatment, compared with the patients who didn't achieve CR. In conclusion, the HBV-related increase of CXCL13 production in KC and serum CXCL13 level during telbivudine treatment might be associated with immune control of chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Broering
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yongyin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Baolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany.
authors.forename: Mengji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: CXCL13; Kupffer cell; chronic hepatitis B; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis B virus e antigen seroconversion