Abstract:

Objective   To study the roles of different subtypes of CD4+ T lymphocytes in IFN-α therapy for hepatitis B. Methods  Th17, Th1 and Th2 cytokines were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 54 hepatitis B patients before and 24 weeks after IFNα treatment. Patients were grouped according to responses to IFN-α therapy. The data were analyzed by t-test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results    The level of IL-17 was slightly lower 24 weeks after IFN-α treatment than that at pretreatment(P＞0.05);  the level of IFN-γ was slightly increased(P＞0.05); and the level of IL-4 was substantially decreased(P＜0.01). In patients with a complete response to IFNα, the level of IFNγ was obviously increased(P＜0.01); and the levels of IL-17 and IL-4 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05; P＜0.01). Conclusion    During IFN-α therapy, the functions of Th17 and Th2 are down-regulated and the function of Th1 is up-regulated in chronic hepatitis B.

Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic; Interferon-α; Helper T cell