X D Wang1, L Wang, F J Ji, J M Zhu, D A Ayana, X D Fang. 1. Department of General Surgery, General Surgery Centre of Jilin University, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in the liver and can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The B lymphocytes may provide a means for HBV to persist although the mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize B lymphocyte subset phenotypes and measure levels of B lymphocyte-related cytokines in HCC patients. METHODS: The study population included 38 HCC patients and 30 healthy control subjects. Phenotyping of B lymphocytes was performed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokine levels were measured using a cytometric bead array immunoassay. RESULTS: The ratio of naïve (CD29+CD27-) to memory (CD19+CD27+) B lymphocytes was significantly higher in HCC patients compared with healthy controls. The percentage of memory B lymphocytes decreased with the progression of HCC. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were significantly increased in HCC patients compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The depletion of memory B lymphocytes may contribute to unresponsiveness to HBV or to HCC. This humoral defect might be related to raised production of IL-6 and IL-10.
OBJECTIVES:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in the liver and can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The B lymphocytes may provide a means for HBV to persist although the mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize B lymphocyte subset phenotypes and measure levels of B lymphocyte-related cytokines in HCC patients. METHODS: The study population included 38 HCC patients and 30 healthy control subjects. Phenotyping of B lymphocytes was performed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokine levels were measured using a cytometric bead array immunoassay. RESULTS: The ratio of naïve (CD29+CD27-) to memory (CD19+CD27+) B lymphocytes was significantly higher in HCC patients compared with healthy controls. The percentage of memory B lymphocytes decreased with the progression of HCC. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were significantly increased in HCC patients compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The depletion of memory B lymphocytes may contribute to unresponsiveness to HBV or to HCC. This humoral defect might be related to raised production of IL-6 and IL-10.
Authors: Marta Garnelo; Alex Tan; Zhisheng Her; Joe Yeong; Chun Jye Lim; Jinmiao Chen; Kiat Hon Lim; Achim Weber; Pierce Chow; Alexander Chung; London Lucien Pj Ooi; Han Chong Toh; Mathias Heikenwalder; Irene O L Ng; Alessandra Nardin; Qingfeng Chen; Jean-Pierre Abastado; Valerie Chew Journal: Gut Date: 2015-12-15 Impact factor: 23.059