The effect of hepatitis B virus on T lymphocyte and its subsets in chronic hepatitis B patients in different ALT stages: A new concept ALT in HBV infection

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of hepatitis B virus on T lymphocyte and its subsets in different ALT states, and elucidate the immunological mechanism of ALT basing antiviral therapy for hepatitis B. 363 chronic hepatitis B patients were selected as the study subjects. According to ALT abnormalities, the patients were divided into three study groups. ALT normal group 131 cases, normal <= ALT 2 times of upper limit group 110 cases, ALT > 2 times of upper limit group 122 cases. Entecavir was given to the ALT > 2 times of upper limit group patients and followed up for 24 weeks. The hepatitis B antigen antibody parameters were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, the liver function parameters were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer, the hepatitis B virus load were measured by quantitative PCR analyzer, T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry, the level of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Detecting the influence of different hepatitis B viru loads in different groups on immunological indexes, and the virological and immunological indexes changes in before and after antiviral therapy patients. In the ALT normal group, different virus load hepatitis B virus had minor effect on T lymphocytes and their subsets (P > 0.05). In the ALT >= double upper limit of normal group. with the virus load increased, The total number of T lymphocytes, CD3+ CD4 + T lymphocytes decreased, (P < 0.05)CD3+ CD8 + T lymphocytes increased(P < 0.05). With the virus load increased the cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma which reflect the Th1 lymphocytes increased(P < 0.05), the cytokines IL-4, IL-10 which reflect the Th2 lymphocytes decreased(P < 0.05). Before and after 24 weeks of entecavir treatment, the patient's HBV-DNA decreased significantly(P < 0.05) and the body's immune function improved significantly. (P < 0.05)The influence of hepatitis B virus on immune function is different in different ALT states. Therefore, the scientific significance of ALT grouping in the hepatitis B treatment can be clarified from the immunological point.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that the impact of hepatitis B virus on immune function varies in different ALT states. In patients with ALT >= double upper limit of normal, as the virus load increased, the total number of T lymphocytes and Th2 cell-related cytokines IL-4, IL-10 decreased, while Th1 cell-related cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma increased.