Increased numbers of CD5+CD19+CD1dhighIL-10+ Bregs, CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs, CD4+CXCR5+Foxp3+ follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells in CHB or CHC patients.

Li Wang,Jinpeng Qiu,Xiaoli Hu,Yanfang Jiang,Pingwei Zhao,Lei Yu

doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0251-9

Abstract

BackgroundIL-10+ regulatory B (Bregs), CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Tregs), and CD4+CXCR5+Foxp3+ follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells regulate the progression of infection disease. This study aimed at examining how those cells associated with the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in a Chinese population.MethodsThe numbers of circulating IL-10+ Bregs, Tregs and TFR cells in 31 CHC, 58 CHB patients and 22 healthy controls (HC) were examined by flow cytometry. The potential association of those cells with clinical measures was analyzed.ResultsThe numbers of CD5+CD19+CD1dhighIL-10+ Bregs, Tregs and TFR cells and the levels of serum IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-2 in the CHB, and IL-10 and IFN-γ in the CHC patients were significantly higher than that in the HC (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the numbers of circulating IL-10+ Bregs and the levels of serum IL-10, but not other cytokines tested were positively correlated with the levels of serum HBV DNA and ALT in the HBeAg− CHB patients as well as HCV RNA and ALT in CHC patients. Additionally, the numbers of circulating TFR cells were positively correlated with the levels of serum HBV DNA and ALT in the CHB patients as well as HCV RNA and ALT in the CHC patients.ConclusionsIncreased numbers of circulating IL-10+ Bregs and TFR cells are associated with poor virus eradication and liver injury in CHB and CHC patients. Furthermore, the levels of serum IL-10 is associated with the hepatic flares.

Highlights

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious health problem in the world, in China
Increased numbers of CD5 + CD19 + CD1dhighIL-10+ Bregs and elevated levels of serum IL-10 in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients To investigate the potential role of IL-10+ Bregs, TFR cells and Tregs in CHB or CHC patients, 31 patients with CHC, 58 patients with CHB and 22 gender, age, and ethnicity-matched healthy subjects were recruited
In comparison with that in the healthy controls (HC), abnormally higher levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), AST, positive HBV DNA, HCV RNA, anti-HCV, HBsAg, HBeAg, HBsAb, HBeAb, and HBcAb were detected in CHB or CHC patients, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious health problem in the world, in China. Results: The numbers of CD5+CD19+CD1dhighIL-10+ Bregs, Tregs and TFR cells and the levels of serum IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-2 in the CHB, and IL-10 and IFN-γ in the CHC patients were significantly higher than that in the HC (p < 0.05). The numbers of circulating IL-10+ Bregs and the levels of serum IL-10, but not other cytokines tested were positively correlated with the levels of serum HBV DNA and ALT in the HBeAg− CHB patients as well as HCV RNA and ALT in CHC patients. The numbers of circulating TFR cells were positively correlated with the levels of serum HBV DNA and ALT in the CHB patients as well as HCV RNA and ALT in the CHC patients. The levels of serum IL-10 is associated with the hepatic flares

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