Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure

  • Authors:
    • Hong-Mei Chen
    • Hong-Li Liu
    • Yu-Cong Yang
    • Xiao-Li Cheng
    • Yue‑Fei Wang
    • Fan-Fan Xing
    • Ying-Ren Zhao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 10, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1533
  • Pages: 1013-1019
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-21 in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. IL-21 stimulates T and B cell responses and plays a role in the control of chronic viral infections. Serum IL-21 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 109 patients with chronic HBV infection at various clinical stages, as well as in 19 healthy controls (HCs). The proportion of T cells producing IL-21 in the peripheral blood was assessed by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. Mean serum IL-21 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the HCs were 303.54±152.77 pg/ml and 68.24±9.06 pg/ml, respectively (P=0.003). In addition, the mean serum IL-21 level in patients with hepatitis B-related acute‑on‑chronic liver failure (HB-ACLF) was 455.38±412.38 pg/ml, which exhibited a statistically significant difference when compared with the HCs (P=0.000). Serum IL-21 levels were highest in the patients with HB-ACLF (455.38±412.38 pg/ml) and exhibited a significant difference when compared with the CHB patients (P=0.04). The mean serum IL-21 levels in patients with cirrhosis also increased, but there was no statistically significant difference when compared with the HCs (P=0.82). The frequency of IL-21+CD4+ cells also increased compared with the HCs and correlated with the number and percentage of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Serum IL-21 levels increased in CHB and HB‑ACLF patients. Relatively low serum IL-21 levels in CHB may have a causal role in the persistence of HBV infection. Higher serum levels in HB-ACLF may activate T and B cells to eliminate the virus or injure the liver via the release of inflammatory cytokines.
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2014-April
Volume 7 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen H, Liu H, Yang Y, Cheng X, Wang YF, Xing F and Zhao Y: Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure. Exp Ther Med 7: 1013-1019, 2014.
APA
Chen, H., Liu, H., Yang, Y., Cheng, X., Wang, Y., Xing, F., & Zhao, Y. (2014). Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 7, 1013-1019. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1533
MLA
Chen, H., Liu, H., Yang, Y., Cheng, X., Wang, Y., Xing, F., Zhao, Y."Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7.4 (2014): 1013-1019.
Chicago
Chen, H., Liu, H., Yang, Y., Cheng, X., Wang, Y., Xing, F., Zhao, Y."Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 7, no. 4 (2014): 1013-1019. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1533