OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells (Treg), CD4(+)IL-17(+) T cells (Th17) and their related cytokines in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and explore the role of Th17/Treg balance in the progression of CHB. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with light-to-moderate chronic hepatitis B (CHB-LM), 25 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry (FCM), and the levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in sera were analyzed by double-antibody ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with health controls, the frequency of Th17, Treg and their cytokines (IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1) increased significantly in CHB patients. Furthermore, the ratio of Th17/Tregs increased markedly in CHB patients compared with health controls, and it was significantly higher in CHB-LM than in CSHB. CONCLUSION: The imbalance of Th17/Treg plays an important role in the progression of CHB, and the ratio of Th17/Treg has a certain forecast value for finding the early development of the disease.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells (Treg), CD4(+)IL-17(+) T cells (Th17) and their related cytokines in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and explore the role of Th17/Treg balance in the progression of CHB. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with light-to-moderate chronic hepatitis B (CHB-LM), 25 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry (FCM), and the levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in sera were analyzed by double-antibody ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with health controls, the frequency of Th17, Treg and their cytokines (IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1) increased significantly in CHB patients. Furthermore, the ratio of Th17/Tregs increased markedly in CHB patients compared with health controls, and it was significantly higher in CHB-LM than in CSHB. CONCLUSION: The imbalance of Th17/Treg plays an important role in the progression of CHB, and the ratio of Th17/Treg has a certain forecast value for finding the early development of the disease.