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Transforming growth factor β as a possible independent factor in chronic hepatitis B

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Abstract

To investigate the association between immune-cell-related cytokines and the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the immunotolerant (IT) phase (n = 30) or hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB (n = 250) were enrolled in this study. Serological indicators and plasma cytokine levels were measured at the time of enrollment. The results showed that there were significant differences in the median age of the patients (27 vs. 31 years), alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT, 29.85 vs. 234.70 U/L), alanine aminotransferase levels (AST, 23.40 vs. 114.90 U/L), HBsAg levels (4.79 vs. 3.88 log10 IU/ml), HBeAg levels (1606.36 vs. 862.47 S/CO), and the HBV DNA load (8.17 vs. 6.71 log10 IU/ml) between the IT and CHB groups (all P < 0.01). The median values of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3-L), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin- 17A (IL-17A), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) were significantly higher in the IT group than in the CHB group (FLT3-L, 41.62 vs. 27.47 pg/ml; IFN-γ, 42.48 vs. 33.18 pg/ml; IL-17A, 15.66 vs. 8.90 pg/ml; TGF-β1, 4921.50 vs. 2234 pg/ml; all P < 0.01). The median IFN-α2, TGF-β3 and IL-10 levels in the IT group were significantly lower than those in the CHB group (IFN-α2, 15.24 vs. 35.78 pg/ml, P = 0.000; TGF-β3, 131.69 vs. 162.61 pg/ml, P = 0.025; IL-10, 5.02 vs. 7.9 pg/ml, P = 0.012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that TGF-β 1 (OR = 0.999, 95% CI 0.999-1.000, P < 0.001) and TGF-β2 levels (OR = 1.008, 95%CI 1.004-1.012, P < 0.001) were modestly but significantly associated with the incidence of CHB. The results suggest that TGF-β level might be an independent factor related to the occurrence of CHB.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded in part by the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10201201-001-006, 2017ZX10201201-002-006 and 2018ZX10715-005-003-005), Bei**g Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support (XMLX 201706 and XMLX202127), Bei**g Science and Technology Commission (D161100002716002), and the Digestive Medical Coordinated Development Center of Bei**g Hospitals Authority (XXZ0302 and XXT28).

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  1. Ming-hui Li and Yao Lu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatology Division 2, Bei**g Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Bei**g, 100015, China

    Ming-hui Li, Yao Lu, Fang-fang Sun, Lu Zhang, Hui-hui Lu & Yao **e

  2. Department of Hepatology Division 2, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Bei**g, 100015, China

    Ming-hui Li, Qi-qi Chen, Zhan Zeng & Yao **e

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Bei**g Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Bei**g, 100015, China

    Wei Yi

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  1. Ming-hui Li
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Correspondence to Wei Yi or Yao **e.

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Li, Mh., Lu, Y., Sun, Ff. et al. Transforming growth factor β as a possible independent factor in chronic hepatitis B. Arch Virol 166, 1853–1858 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05062-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05062-6

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