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Ratios of regulatory T cells/T‐helper 17 cells and transforming growth factor‐β1/interleukin‐17 to be associated with the development of hepatitis B virus‐associated liver cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Yu Xueping,
Guo Ruyi,
Ming Desong,
Su Milong,
Lin Chengzu,
Deng Yong,
Lin Zhenzhong,
Su Zhijun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.12459
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , liver disease , flow cytometry , interleukin , immunology , gastroenterology , virus , cytokine
Background and Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of the regulatory T cells ( T reg)/T‐helper (Th) 17 cells and transforming growth factor‐β1 ( TGF ‐β1)/interleukin‐17 ( IL ‐17) ratios with the survival and disease progression in patients with hepatitis B virus ( HBV )‐associated liver cirrhosis ( LC ). Methods The frequencies of T reg and T h17 cells were analyzed in 28 patients with HBV‐LC , 70 patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ) and 20 normal controls ( NC ) by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines related to T reg/ T h17 differentiation, including I L ‐10, TGF ‐β1, IL ‐17, and IL ‐23, were measured by ELISA . Results Compared with NC , Treg cells were significantly increased in CHB patients and slightly increased in HBV‐LC patients, whereas T h17 cells were markedly increased both in patients with CHB and HBV‐LC . HBV‐LC patients, especially the nonsurvival ones, manifested a profound decrease in the T reg/ T h17 ratio, which was negatively correlated with C hild‐ P ugh and model of end‐stage liver disease scores. Serum IL ‐10, TGF ‐β1, IL ‐17, and IL ‐23 levels were all significantly higher in HBV‐LC patients than in NC. In addition, the TGF ‐β1/ IL ‐17 ratio was also markedly increased in patients with HBV‐LC , especially in nonsurvival and decompensated liver cirrhosis patients, and positively correlated with total bilirubin, C hild‐Pugh, and model of end‐stage liver disease scores. Conclusions The decreased T reg/ T h17 ratio and increased TGF ‐β1/ IL ‐17 ratio may be associated with the survival and disease progression in HBV‐LC patients, and both of the two ratios can be used independently to predict the prognosis and disease progression of HBV‐LC patients.