Jiajie Fang1, Lu Zhuge2, Heping Rao3, Shanshan Huang2, Lingxiang Jin2, Jie Li2. 1. 1 Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. 2. 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. 3. 3 Department of Nursing, School of Medicine, Quzhou College of Technology, Quzhou China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an important regulator of immune responses in humans. However, its role in T-cell activation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 77 HBV carriers, and 51 healthy controls were recruited. HBV DNA and serologic tests were carried out for each subject. Levels of miR-155 in peripheral blood were detected by quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction. Immune activation of T-cells was determined by detection of surface molecules CD38 and HLA-DR using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found higher miR-155 levels in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of CHB patients than HBV carriers or healthy controls (p < 0.01), moreover, miR-155 levels in the CD8+ T-cells of HBV carriers were higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). Furthermore, immune activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in CHB patients was much higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that miR-155 expression positively correlates with T-cell activation, especially in CHB patients, and is a potential biomarker for immune activation and disease progression in HBV infection.
OBJECTIVES:MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an important regulator of immune responses in humans. However, its role in T-cell activation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 77 HBV carriers, and 51 healthy controls were recruited. HBV DNA and serologic tests were carried out for each subject. Levels of miR-155 in peripheral blood were detected by quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction. Immune activation of T-cells was determined by detection of surface molecules CD38 and HLA-DR using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found higher miR-155 levels in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of CHB patients than HBV carriers or healthy controls (p < 0.01), moreover, miR-155 levels in the CD8+ T-cells of HBV carriers were higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). Furthermore, immune activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in CHB patients was much higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that miR-155 expression positively correlates with T-cell activation, especially in CHB patients, and is a potential biomarker for immune activation and disease progression in HBV infection.