Determination of serum levels of IL-2,IL-6 and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Aim:To study the changes of IL-2,IL-6,T lymphocyte subsets in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B.Methods:Seventy-one chronic hepatitis B patients and fifty-one normal controls were collected in the study,and the patients were categorized into three groups according to the degree of hepatic injury:light degree(n=24),medium degree(n=28) and severe degree(n=19).Serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels were determined by double antibody sandwich ELISA,T-lymphocyte subsets were determined by indirect immunofluorescent assay,and serum HBV-DNA levels were determined by fluorescent quantitative PCR.The patients were categorized into HBV-DNA positive group and HBV-DNA negative group according to the results of PCR.Results:Along with the aggravation of hepatic injury,the CD4+ percentage and CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased gradually and the IL-6 level and CD8+ percentage increased gradually.In HBV-DNA positive group,the IL-2 level and CD4+/CD8+ ratio significantly decreased,IL-6 level and CD8+ percentage significantly increased compared with HBV-DNA negative group.Conclusion:T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines are abnormal in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B.Detection of IL-2,IL-6 and the T lymphocyte subsets can indicate the patients' immune function and is valuable to some extent in monitoring the status of disease.