Dynamic Changes of Treg and Th17 Cells and Related Cytokines Closely Correlate With the Virological and Biochemical Response in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Undergoing Nucleos(t)ide Analogues Treatment

Background: the restoration of hbv-specific t-cell response during antiviral therapy is associated with cd4+t-cell activity. treg cells and th17 cells are subtypes of cd4+t cell. however, it has remained unknown how the treg and th17 cells and their associated cytokines affect nucleos(t)ide analogues (na) antiviral efficacy.objectives: the aim of the present study was to provide a new insight to evaluate the na antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis b (chb).patients and methods: forty-four chb patients hospitalized between july 2010 and august 2011 were enrolled in this study. they were received na (entecavir, lamivudine and adefovir) treatment for 14.42 ± 13.08 weeks, and the peripheral blood was collected. the frequencies of treg and th17 cells were detected by flow cytometric analysis, and the levels of il-10, tgf-β1, il-17 and il-23 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa).results: in complete and partial-responders, treg cells frequencies and il-10, tgf-β1, il-23 levels were all decreased significantly after na therapy, while th17 cells and the il-17 levels were increased slightly. treg/th17 ratio was only dramatically declined in complete-responders. but there was no significant difference in non-responders. either hbv dna decreased by at least 2 log copies /ml or alt turned to normal level, treg cells frequencies and il-10, tgf-β1, il-23 levels were significantly reduced. meanwhile, treg cells were positively correlated with hbv dna and alt.conclusions: the changes of treg and th17 cells and their associated cytokines were related to virological and biochemical responses.