Hepcidin expression levels involve efficacy of pegylated interferon-α treatment in hepatitis B-infected liver

Background: Hepcidin is the master iron regulator hormone produced by the liver. The association of serum hepcidin with pegylated interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection has been studied. However, the role of serum hepcidin level in predicting the effect of pegylated interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is yet to be elucidated. Our study aims to investigate the correlation between hepcidin expression levels and the curative effect of interferon-alpha therapy in patients with CHB. Methods: A total of 47 patients with CHB who accepted pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha) treatment were recruited. The serum level of hepcidin was estimated by ELISA. The alternation in the gene expression level of hepcidin was detected by RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence cell staining was performed to detect hepcidin peptide. The induction of antiviral proteins was analyzed by Western blotting. The predictive value of early on-treatment variation in serum hepcidin during treatment progress was assessed by receiver operating charac-teristic analysis. Results: High levels of early on-treatment serum hepcidin were observed in patients who achieved a decline in HBsAg > 1 log10 IU/mL or HBV DNA > 1 log10 IU/mL. In vitro, an elevation of the hepcidin expression in HepG2.2.15 cells induced by PEG-IFN-alpha treatment was noted. Furthermore, combined treatment with hepcidin and PEG-IFN-alpha increased the levels of antiviral proteins. The predictive cut-off value of hepcidin for HBsAg decline > 1 log10 IU/mL was 239 pg/mL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.73% and 70.97%, respectively. The predictive cut-off value of hepcidin for the decline in HBV DNA > 1 log10 IU/mL was 190.4 pg/ mL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.73% and 61.11%, respectively. Early-on treatment changes in the hepcidin level signified the predictive value of the PEG-IFN-alpha curative effect. Conclusions: A higher early-on treatment hepcidin level indicates a higher possibility of HBsAg and HBV DNA decline in patients with CHB during PEG-IFN-alpha treatment. A high early-on treatment serum hepcidin level is significant in predicting the PEG-IFN-alpha therapeutic effect in patients with CHB.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum hepcidin levels and the curative effect of interferon-alpha therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The results showed that patients with higher early-on treatment hepcidin levels were more likely to experience a decline in HBsAg and HBV DNA levels. Additionally, changes in serum hepcidin levels could predict the therapeutic effect of interferon-alpha.