Clinical Study In The Expression Of Interferon Receptor On The Membranes Of Peripheral Leucocytes In CHB Patients

Background HBV persistent infection is the main cause of chronic hepatitis B(CHB),which can develops more severe liver disease such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Hence ,taking antiviral treatment that aims to control or eradicate hepatitis B virus as early as possible and lessen the inflammation which might induce fibrogenesis is very important to reduce the occurrence of progression to cirrhosis and decompensated liver disease .IFN is one of the effective drugs which approved globally for CHB . It initiates the body antiviral status through two main steps :first is IFN binding to the cognate receptors (IFNα/ β receptors) on the cell surface and the second is the activating of intracellular signaling pathways .Various regulations might result in different responses of IFN. So we suggested that the biological effects of IFN is associated with the level of specific receptors on target cells . However, current research about this direction remains little ,further studies needs to be pursued.Object To study the possible differences in the interferon alpha/beta receptor response among a variety of clinical types in patients with chronic hepatitis B and implication in pathogenesis, and the relationship between the antiviral efficiency of IFN-α and the level of interferon alpha/beta receptor expressed on the membranes of peripheral leucocytes in CHB patients. Methods 70 consecutive in-patient with chronic hepatitis B ,liver cirrhosis and chronicsevere hepatitis were enrolled between 2004 and 2005. The expression level of IFNot\p receptor in peripheral leucocytes,from 70 CHB patients,were examined by flow cytometry respectively,which were compared with the baseline levels of 15 healthy controls.Among these, thirty patients with chronic hepatitis B received interferon-alpha (5 million unit every other day) at first six months, and were followed up periodicly., Before and after treatment ,hepatitic function ,HBV serology parameters and serum HBVDNA were observed.Results The results showed that the level of IFNoc/pR expressed on the membranes of peripheral leucocytes was obvious in CHB group;(PO.05) and in LC group,it varied in lymphocyte and neutrophil;(P<0.05)while the chronic severe hepatitis group showed no difference at all (P>0.05). Among three groups,CHB and LC group showed the highest and lowest expression level respectively and also showed higher levels in three cell types to compare with controls.But the chronic hepatitis patients only showed higher levels in lymphoctes and neutrophil. Significant distinction in monocyte and neutrophil was found between responders and nonresponders of 30 post-treatment CHB patients (PO.05) ,but not in lymphocyte (P>0.05)o The efficacy of IFN was performed Logistic regression analysis with alanine aminotransferase,serum HBVDNA and level of IFNa/preceptors pretreatment which showed that receptors on the surface of monocytes and neutrophil were capable to be treated as independent predictors of the efficacy of IFN therapy.Conclusion the expression of I F N -a\preceptor might correlate to the progression of liver disease.Accompanied with the decreasing level of I F N -a\|3receptor,the liver disease aggravated.and when it reached cirrosis the receptor expressed its lowest level. The pretreatment receptor on the surface of monocytes and neutrophil which plays an important role is capable to be treated as independent predictor of the efficacy of IFN therapy for CHB patients .