Changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets and TGFβ and their clinical significance among HBV infection patients with different viral loads

• Main Author: LI Caidong
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2014-09-01
• Series: Linchuang Gandanbing Zazhi
• Subjects: hepatitis B; chronic; T-lymphocytes; transforming growth factor beta
• Online Access: http://www.lcgdbzz.org/qk_content.asp?id=6006&ClassID=86133151
• ISSN: 1001-5256; 1001-5256

ObjectiveTo study the changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers (ASC), who have different viral loads, and to investigate the correlation of T cell subsets with transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. MethodsA total of 175 HBV infection patients admitted to our hospital from July to December, 2012 were recruited and divided into ASC group (n=112) and CHB group (n=63); 84 healthy controls who underwent physical examination in the same period were selected as control group. The percentages of T cell subsets in serum were determined by flow cytometry, and liver function parameters were measured. For normally distributed continuous data, comparison between groups was made by analysis of variance; for non-normally distributed continuous data, comparison between groups was made by Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test. ResultsAmong the 175 HBV infection patients, the percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were 72.14%-74.07%, 38.43%-39.47%, 30.74%-31.42%, and 1.31-1.34, respectively. Compared with the control group, the ASC group and CHB group had significantly increased TGFβ levels (P＜0.05 for both), significantly reduced percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), significantly reduced CD4+/CD8+ ratios (P＜0.01), and significantly increased percentages of CD8+ T cells (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). In the ASC and CHB groups, both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients had reduced percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells, increased percentages of CD8+ T cells, and reduced CD4+/CD8+ ratios. In addition, no correlation was found between HBV DNA loads and T cell subsets in the two groups (P＞0.05). ConclusionTGFβ may be involved in the pathogenesis of CHB, and its immunosuppressive effect may be exerted by inhibiting T cells and antigen-presenting cell maturation.