The Function Of Th1/Th2 Cells And The Frequency Of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cclls In Patients With E Antigen Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

Background Hepatitis B virus(HBV) is a noncytopathic, hepatotropic DNA virus,which make patients suffer from chronic hepatitis,cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.350 million people worldwide are infected with HBV each year of which nearly 10%adults and 90%children become persistent HBV infection.About 10%-15%of e antigen positive patients will become to e antigen negative or e antigen seroconversion annually.Patients with e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B(e-CHB)was noted as early as in 1980s,and the incidence is climbing gradually.There are obvious differences in clinical manifestation,pathology,treatment,prognosis and pathogenesis between patients with e-CHB and those with typical e antigen positive chronic hepatitis B(e+CHB).Methods 876 patients with CHB in general hospital were analyzed to know the ratio of e-CHB and e+CHB and to explore the e antigen related clinical factors;The functions of Th1/Th2 cells were assessed by the serum level of IL-2,IL-4,IL-10,and IFN-γ,which were evaluated by ELISA;The frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells(Treg) in peripheral blood was assayed by flow cytometry.Result Among the 876 patients,552(63.1%) cases were e-CHB and 324(36.9%) ones e+CHB.Compared with e+CHB group,e-CHB group had a lower serum HBVDNA levels(p=0.016) and a higher TBIL levels(p=0.00);There were significant differences in the levels of Th1/Th2 related cytokines between the patients with CHB and the healthy, and also in the patients with e-CHB and those with e+CHB;The frequencies of Treg in patients with e-CHB and e+CHB and HBV cariers and the healthy were 4.54±3.61%,5.82±2.47%,5.36±2.26%,3.32±1.98%individually,the frequencies of Treg in patients with CHB were higher than those of in the healthy(p＜0.01),but there were no difference compared with those of in HBV carriers(p＞0.05);The frequencies of Treg in patients with e-CHB were lower than those of in patients with e+CHB(p＜0.05);The serum HBV load had a negative correlation to the levels of IFN-γin patients with CHB(γ=-0.420,p＜0.05),.and a positive correlation to the frequencies of Treg in patients with e-CHB and e+CHB (γ=0.396,0.428,p＜0.01),the frequencies of Treg had a negative correlation to the levels of IFN-γin patients with CHB(γ=-0.370, p＜0.05).Conclusion e-CHB is the major form of hospitalized patients with CHB,and has a lower serum HBV-DNA level;The function of Th1/Th2 cells exists difference between the patients with e-CHB and e+CHB;The frequency of Treg was different between the patient with e-CHB and e+CHB;The function of Th1/Th2 cells and the frequency of Treg had relations to HBV DNA load and the frequency of Treg had a negative correlation to the level of IFN-γin patients with CHB.