Interrelation between the activity of hepatitis, liver fibrosis and immune status in children with chronic hepatitis B and C

The lesion of the liver in viral hepatitis was found to depend on the state of the immune system. Relationship between the content of lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+) in the blood and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) with parameters of semi-quantitative evaluation of the activity of hepatitis and the stage of liver fibrosis in children with chronic virus hepatitis B, C, B + C was studied. The characteristic feature of all hepatitis was a decrease in the number of T lymphocytes CD4+ below the normal level and an increase in the content of B lymphocytes. The correlation between the morphological activity of hepatitis and the amount of T lymphocytes CD8+ was established only in chronic hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis B and B + C the absolute amount of blood lymphocytes decreased with the increase of the age of the patients, but in chronic hepatitis B this was accompanied by the decrease of the morphological activity of hepatitis and in hepatitis B + C by its increase. The amount of lymphocytes CD4+ rose with the increase of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. In children with chronic hepatitis C and B + C the amount of blood lymphocytes was found to be unrelated to the morphological activity of hepatitis.     

A lack of association between adiponectin polymorphisms and coronary artery disease in a Chinese population

We investigated the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene (rs822395 and rs266729) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in a case-control study of 198 unrelated Chinese CAD patients (with ≥ 70% coronary stenosis or previous myocardial infarction) and 237 non-CAD controls. The ligase reaction was used to detect SNPs rs822395 and rs266729, and the allelic association of these SNPs with the occurrence and severity of CAD was assessed. There were no significant differences in the genotypic or allelic frequencies of the two SNPs between control and CAD individuals. In addition, there was no association between the two SNPs and the severity of CAD based on the number of diseased vessels. The frequencies of alleles C and G at rs266729 differed significantly between females in the CAD and control groups, but not between males. Female carriers of allele G at rs266729 had a higher risk of CAD compared with allele C carriers (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09-2.64, p = 0.02). These results indicate a gender-specific effect of the adiponectin gene rs266729 variant in modulating the risk of CAD in women.     

乙肝患者血清肝纤维化标志物与HBV DNA含量分析

目的 动态观察肝纤维化活动性与肝脏病变程度。方法 采用放射免疫法检测血清中透明质酸（HA）、层连蛋白（IN）、Ⅲ型前胶原（PC-Ⅲ）、Ⅳ型胶原（Ⅳ-C）肝纤维化标志物;采用核扩增荧光定量检测HBVDNA。结果 随着年龄的不同血清肝纤维化标志物水平变化呈多样性,而各年龄组间的病毒含量差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论 肝炎患者HBV复制活跃,传染性强,但并不表明肝炎后肝病的严重程度。     

HBV感染者肝纤维化四项指标检测值与Fibroscan检测值的相关性分析

目的分析HBV感染者四项肝纤维化血清学指标检测值与Fibroscan检测值之间的相关性。方法选择大连市第六人民医院211例HBV感染者,按肝影像学Fibroscan检测值将患者分为肝硬化组和非肝硬化组,非肝硬化组患者再根据Fibroscan分期分为无肝纤维化组、轻度肝纤维化组、中度肝纤维化组和重度肝纤维化组。所有患者均采集其相近时间内Fibroscan及Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅢ)、Ⅳ型胶原(C-Ⅳ)、血清透明质酸(HA)、层黏连蛋白(LN)检测数据。结果运用SPSS 17.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 PCⅢ、C-Ⅳ、HA、LN检测值与Fibroscan检测值之间均具有良好的相关性(r=0.404、0.445、0.557、0.470,P0.01),其中以HA检测值与Fibroscan检测值之间的相关性最高(r=0.557,P0.01)。结论肝纤维化四项血清学指标检测值与Fibroscan检测值之间相关性显著。肝纤维化四项血清学指标检测在肝纤维化程度较重时的准确性更高。     

Genome-wide association study confirming association of HLA-DP with protection against chronic hepatitis B and viral clearance in Japanese and Korean

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to serious liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, about 85-90% of infected individuals become inactive carriers with sustained biochemical remission and very low risk of LC or HCC. To identify host genetic factors contributing to HBV clearance, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and replication analysis using samples from HBV carriers and spontaneously HBV-resolved Japanese and Korean individuals. Association analysis in the Japanese and Korean data identified the HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 genes with P(meta)?=?1.89×10?12 for rs3077 and P(meta)?=?9.69×10?1? for rs9277542. We also found that the HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 genes were significantly associated with protective effects against chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Japanese, Korean and other Asian populations, including Chinese and Thai individuals (P(meta)?=?4.40×10?1? for rs3077 and P(meta)?=?1.28×10?1? for rs9277542). These results suggest that the associations between the HLA-DP locus and the protective effects against persistent HBV infection and with clearance of HBV were replicated widely in East Asian populations; however, there are no reports of GWAS in Caucasian or African populations. Based on the GWAS in this study, there were no significant SNPs associated with HCC development. To clarify the pathogenesis of CHB and the mechanisms of HBV clearance, further studies are necessary, including functional analyses of the HLA-DP molecule.     

Genome-wide association study on and the clinical application to chronic hepatitis C

Based on the data and technology generated in previous international projects, such as the Human Genome Project and the HapMap, for the building of the common patterns of genetic variation in humans, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to HCV infection was conducted to reveal genetic effects against treatment response or the induction of side effects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with response to pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy were determined around IL-28B in chromosome 19, and the strong association was also observed in spontaneous viral clearance regardless of population. These data imply that an important interaction between HCV infection and IL-28B is critical for viral persistence or clearance. PEG-IFN and RBV therapy is associated with a range of treatment-limiting adverse effects. One of the frequent side effects induced by the combination therapy is haemolytic anaemia. The severe anaemia requires the reduction of the RBV dose, which could lead to treatment failure. Genetic variants around inosine triphosphatase gene (ITPA) were associated with heamolytic anaemia. Interestingly, the significant SNPs observed in Europe and the United States were not strongly associated with Japanese population although all significant SNPs were located around ITPA gene, suggesting that SNPs typing using individual population are required for the collection of precise data. These significant SNPs would be useful for prediction prior to treatment for individualized medicine.     

Liver stiffness measurement and biochemical markers in Senegalese chronic hepatitis B patients with normal ALT and high viral load

Background and Aims

Despite the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Africa, few studies have been performed among African patients. We sought to evaluate liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan® (LSM) and two biochemical scores (FibroTest®, Fibrometer®) to diagnose liver fibrosis in Senegalese CHB patients with HBV plasma DNA load ≥3.2 log₁₀ IU/mL and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values.

Methods

LSM and liver fibrosis biochemical markers were performed on 225 consecutive HBV infected Senegalese patients with high viral load. Patients with an LSM range between 7 and 13 kPa underwent liver biopsy (LB). Two experienced liver pathologists performed histological grading using Metavir and Ishak scoring.

Results

225 patients were evaluated (84% male) and LB was performed in 69 patients, showing F2 and F3 fibrosis in 17% and 10% respectively. In these patients with a 7–13 kPa range of LSM, accuracy for diagnosis of significant fibrosis according to LB was unsatisfactory for all non-invasive markers with AUROCs below 0.70. For patients with LSM values below 7 kPa, FibroTest® (FT), and Fibrometer® (FM) using the cut-offs recommended by the test promoters suggested a fibrosis in 18% of cases for FT (8% severe fibrosis) and 8% for FM. For patients with LSM values greater than 13 kPa, FT, FM suggested a possible fibrosis in 73% and 70%, respectively.

Conclusion

In highly replicative HBV-infected African patients with normal ALT and LSM value below 13 kPa, FibroScan®, FibroTest® or Fibrometer® were unsuitable to predict the histological liver status of fibrosis.     

Evidences showing association of interleukin-1B polymorphisms with increased risk of gastric cancer in an Indian population

Helicobacter pylori infection is strongly associated with gastric cancer. In the present study, the relationship between interleukin-1B (IL-1B) polymorphism, H. pylori infection, and prevalence of gastric cancer (GC) in patients of North India was evaluated using genomic DNA directly extracted from biopsy tissues for performing PCR-RFLP. A total of 136 GC cases and 110 healthy controls were included for studying polymorphisms in the genotypes of IL-1B−511, −31, +3954 and IL-1RN both in the presence and absence of H. pylori active infection. Results showed that the frequency of IL-1RN 2/2 was significantly higher in GC cases (21.32%) than the controls (9.09%) with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.391 (95% CI 1.093-10.131). The risk of GC was also found higher in other genotypes of IL-1B namely, −511 TT (χ² = 18.975, p < 0.001), −31CC (χ² = 21.219, p < 0.001), +3954 CT (χ² = 21.082, p < 0.001) and IL-1RN 1/2 (χ² = 30.543, p < 0.001) with active infection of H. pylori. Our findings indicate that the IL-1B and IL-1RN polymorphisms are associated with the development of GC and H. pylori infection markedly increases the risk of GC in North Indian population. Additionally, IL-1B−511 C/C and IL-RN 2/2 polymorphisms seem to be involved in the development of GC in H. pylori uninfected patients.     

The relationship between core promoter mutation of hepatitis B virus, viral load and hepatitis B e antigen status in chronic hepatitis B patients

The aim of this study is to detect the possible association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core mutation, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status and the viral load in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Sixty-six patients with CHB were enrolled. Hepatitis markers and hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV-Ab) were tested using micro particle enzyme immunoassay kits. Viral load was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the mutation was analyzed by nested PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Most of CHB patients were HBeAg (-ve). The HBeAg status did not have an influence on the presence or absence of T1762/A1764 mutation. HBV-DNA serum level was not significantly different in patients with core mutation and patients without core mutation in HBeAg (-ve) group, while in HBeAg (+ve) group HBV-DNA serum level was significantly higher in patients with core mutation. This study reports the predominance of HBeAg (-ve) and HBV core promoter mutation.     

基线HBsAg和ALT水平是替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者e抗原血清学转换的重要预测因素

目的评价初治、单药使用替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者48周的e抗原血清学转换的基线预测因素。方法97例HBeAg阳性CHB患者分别以基线HBsAg、ALT和HBVDNA水平高低分组,对比两组治疗48周时生化学、病毒学和血清学应答情况。结果基线HBsAg-101500IU／mL组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为42．3％,基线HBsAg〉1500IU／mL组分别为20％和17．8％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;基线ALT〉5ULN组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为45．1％,基线ALT05ULN组分别17．4％和15．2％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;基线HBVDNA〈8．0log-10copies／mL组和基线HBVDNA≥8．0log-10copies／mL组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率相比,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;基线水平HBsAg≤1500IU／mL且ALT〉5ULN的CHB患者共40例作为观察组,其余57例患者作为对照组,治疗48周时观察组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为45％,对照组分别为22．8％和21．1％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论基线HBsAg水平≤1500IU／mL和ALT水平〉5ULN的HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者,在接受替比夫定治疗48周时,有较高的e抗原转阴率和血清学转换率;基线HBsAg和ALT水平是替比夫定治疗e抗原血清学转换的重要预测因素。     

Relationship of serum adiponectin and resistin levels with the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

BackgroundRecent research has closely linked adipocytokines to liver inflammation and fibrosis progression in patients with non-alcoholic liver disease. This study aimed to determine the relationship of serum adiponectin and resistin levels with the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), depending on the duration of antiviral therapy.MethodsThe cross-sectional study included 75 patients with CHB divided into two groups: the T1 group (undergoing antiviral therapy for up to 2 years) and the T2 group (undergoing antiviral therapy over 2 years). The control group consisted of 40 healthy people. Serum concentrations of adiponectin and resistin were estimated with the ELISA method, while the degree of liver fibrosis was determined using FIB-4 and APRI score.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in the mean serum adiponectin levels in relation to the duration of antiviral therapy. Higher values of serum resistin concentration were confirmed in patients of the T1 group compared to healthy controls (p=0.001) and to the T2 group (p=0.031). The mean level of serum resistin concentration was significantly higher in the group of patients with a higher FIB-4 score (9.12±3.39 vs 5.58±3.36 ng/mL, p=0.001) and higher APRI score (17.45±3.96 ng/mL vs 4.82±1.11 ng/mL, p=0.001). A positive correlation was found between serum resistin levels and the degree of liver fibrosis (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between mean serum adiponectin levels according to the values of FIB-4 and APRI scores.ConclusionsProgression of liver fibrosis estimated by FIB4 and APRI scores as well as the length of antiviral treatment had a significant effect on serum resistin values in CHB patients on antiviral therapy.     

乙肝患者血清的HBV-DNA含量与ALT水平的关系研究

目的:探讨和研究乙型肝炎患者乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA复制水平与丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)水平之间的关系,为临床中乙肝患者的诊治提供参考。方法:对240例慢性乙型肝炎患者采用荧光标记定量PCR方法测定血清HBV-DNA含量,采用全自动生化分析仪测定血清ALT水平,比较和分析HBV-DNA含量与ALT水平之间的关系。结果:慢性乙肝轻、中、重度患者的HBV-DNA含量三组之间差异有统计学意义(p0.01),肝脏的损害程度与HBV-DNA含量之间具有一定的关联,等级相关系数为0.162(P=0.012);ALT水平也与HBV-DNA载量之间存在关联,等级相关系数为0.371(P0.0001)。结论:肝损伤程度与HBV-DNA含量有显著相关性;同时血清ALT水平与HBV-DNA含量呈正相关。检测血清中的HBV-DNA含量和ALT水平为指导乙肝患者HBV感染、复制、传染性的判断、治疗方案的选择和疗效评定提供有一定的依据。     

Hyper-activated pro-inflammatory CD16 monocytes correlate with the severity of liver injury and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background

Extensive mononuclear cell infiltration is strongly correlated with liver damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection. Macrophages and infiltrating monocytes also participate in the development of liver damage and fibrosis in animal models. However, little is known regarding the immunopathogenic role of peripheral blood monocytes and intrahepatic macrophages.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The frequencies, phenotypes, and functions of peripheral blood and intrahepatic monocyte/macrophage subsets were analyzed in 110 HBeAg positive CHB patients, including 32 immune tolerant (IT) carriers and 78 immune activated (IA) patients. Liver biopsies from 20 IA patients undergoing diagnosis were collected for immunohistochemical analysis. IA patients displayed significant increases in peripheral blood monocytes and intrahepatic macrophages as well as CD16⁺ subsets, which were closely associated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the liver histological activity index (HAI) scores. In addition, the increased CD16⁺ monocytes/macrophages expressed higher levels of the activation marker HLA-DR compared with CD16⁻ monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, peripheral blood CD16⁺ monocytes preferentially released inflammatory cytokines and hold higher potency in inducing the expansion of Th17 cells. Of note, hepatic neutrophils also positively correlated with HAI scores.

Conclusions

These distinct properties of monocyte/macrophage subpopulations participate in fostering the inflammatory microenvironment and liver damage in CHB patients and further represent a collaborative scenario among different cell types contributing to the pathogenesis of HBV-induced liver disease.     

A pre-S gene chip to detect pre-S deletions in hepatitis B virus large surface antigen as a predictive marker for hepatoma risk in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers

Background  

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The pre-S₁ and -S₂ mutant large HBV surface antigen (LHBS), in which the pre-S₁ and -S₂ regions of the LHBS gene are partially deleted, are highly associated with HBV-related HCC.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者肠道菌群与肝脏生化指标的相关性

乙型肝炎病毒感染引起的慢性乙型肝炎(Chronic hepatitis B,CHB)是一种全球性流行疾病,严重时可引起肝功能衰竭,甚至发展成肝硬化和肝癌.也已发现CHB的发生和发展与肠道菌群的组成和结构的变化密切相关.为进一步探究肠道菌群结构与肝脏生化指标之间的联系,文中随机纳入14名CHB患者和11名健康对照者(Co...