Detection of Treg/Th17 cells and related cytokines in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B patients combined with thrombocytopenia and the clinical significance

Wang,Yinghui; Wang,Liru; Gao,Wei; Chen,Xi; Su,Yanhua

doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6311

Detection of Treg/Th17 cells and related cytokines in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B patients combined with thrombocytopenia and the clinical significance

Authors:
- Yinghui Wang
- Liru Wang
- Wei Gao
- Xi Chen
- Yanhua Su
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Affiliations: Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China, Department of Hematology, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China, Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China
Published online on: June 14, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6311
Pages: 1328-1332

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Abstract

Changes of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells, and related cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B combined with thrombocytopenia were investigated to explore the relationship with treatment outcomes. A total of 45 chronic hepatitis B patients combined with thrombocytopenia were selected in Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital from June 2015 to December 2016. All patients were treated with prednisolone acetate + γ globulins for 60 days. Treg cells and Th17 cells in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry, and IL-10, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 in peripheral blood were detected by ELISA before and after treatment. No significant differences in the percentages of Treg and Th17, and levels of IL-10, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 were found in non-responders (n=17, platelets <100x109/l) before and after treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, percentage of Treg was significantly increased (higher than that of non-responders) and percentage of Th17 was significantly decreased (lower than that of non-responders) in responders (P<0.05). In addition, serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly increased (higher than that of non-responders) and serum levels of IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 were significantly decreased (lower than that of non-responders) in responders (P<0.05). The results showed that after treatment, the number of Treg cells was increased, the number of Th17 cells was decreased, the levels of anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β were increased, and levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 were decreased in chronic hepatitis B patients combined with thrombocytopenia, indicating the decreased autoimmune response and improved thrombocytopenia. The changes were closely related to the complete response.

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