Differences Of T Helper17Cells And Transforming Growth Factor-β1between Early And Late Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Object To explore the differences of Th17population and serum transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1levels between early-and late-stage primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and their roles in pathogenesis in PBC. Methods Peripheral Th17in59patients with PBC,20patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and18healthy controls were analysed by flow cytometry. The expression and serum concentration of TGF-β1were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Liver biopsies were done in22patients with PBC and8patients with CHB, while4"normal livers" were acquired from the hemangiomas patients. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to determine the pathological stage followed by immunohistochemical stain with anti-human IL-17antibody. Results The peripheral Th17population increased in patients with early PBC, compared to those with late PBC, while TGF-β1expression changed in the opposite direction. However, liver IL-17positive cells appeared to be greater in population in late PBC than in early stage. Conclusions The opposite changes of Th17population and TGF-β1level in early and late PBC indicated the different roles of them in different stages. Th17may contribute to the autoimmune response in early PBC, while TGF-β1to fibrogenesis in late stage. What’s more, the regulation mechanisms of differentiation of Th17by TGF-β1can not be ignored.