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Zhang Q, Huang H, Sun A, Liu C, Wang Z, Shi F, Duan W, Sun X, Wang Q, Sun P, Pu C, Zhang Y. Change of Cytokines in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients and HBeAg are Positively Correlated with HBV RNA, Based on Real-world Study. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2022; 10:390-397. [PMID: 35836760 PMCID: PMC9240249 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2021.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is widely studied; however, follow-up studies of the same patients are scanty. Here, we studied the dynamic changes of serum HBV RNA and cytokines in hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients treated with entecavir (ETV) to explore the relationship between the HBV serum viral nucleic acids and host immunity. METHODS Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who are HBeAg-positive, with high virus load (HBV DNA >20,000 IU/mL), and received standard nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) antiviral therapy (ETV) for more than 48 weeks were included. The serum levels of HBV nucleic acids and selected cytokines were measured at 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks respectively. RESULTS Serum HBV RNA could still be detected while serum HBV DNA had fallen below the detection limit in patients treated with ETV. There was a strong positive correlation between HBV RNA and HBeAg, with a concomitant decrease in the secretion of cytokines from type 1 helper T (Th1)/type 2 helper T (Th2)/interleukin (IL)-17 producing T (Th17) cells. IL-4 and IL-10 were the main cytokines negatively associated with serum HBV RNA. CONCLUSIONS HBeAg can be used to reflect the load of HBV RNA indirectly, because serum HBV RNA has not been widely used in clinical practice. Meanwhile, serum IL-4 and IL-10 might be explored in combination with HBV RNA in guiding future clinical antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Zhang
- Department of Biobank, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Biobank, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Aijun Sun
- Outpatient Department of Hepatitis, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Biobank, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhidong Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Feifan Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Duan
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xueying Sun
- Department of Biobank, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chunwen Pu
- Department of Biobank, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Outpatient Department of Hepatitis, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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