Changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets and TGFβ and their clinical significance among HBV infection patients with different viral loads

Objective To study the changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets among chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) patients and asymptomatic hepatitis B virus ( HBV) carriers ( ASC) , who have different viral loads, and to investigate the correlation of T cell subsets with transforming growth factor beta ( TGFβ) , alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. Methods A total of 175 HBV infection patients admitted to our hospital from July to December, 2012 were recruited and divided into ASC group ( n = 112) and CHB group ( n = 63) ; 84 healthy controls who underwent physical examination in the same period were selected as control group. The percentages of T cell subsets in serum were determined by flow cytometry, and liver function parameters were measured. For normally distributed continuous data, comparison between groups was made by analysis of variance; for non- normally distributed continuous data, comparison between groups was made by Kruskal- Wallis H rank sum test. Results Among the 175 HBV infection patients, the percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+T cells and CD4+/CD8+ratio were72. 14%- 74. 07%, 38. 43%- 39. 47%, 30. 74%- 31. 42%, and 1. 31- 1. 34, respectively. Compared with the control group, the ASC group and CHB group had significantly increased TGFβ levels ( P < 0. 05 for both) , significantly reduced percentages of CD3+and CD4+T cells ( P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01) , significantly reduced CD4+/CD8+ratios ( P < 0. 01) , and significantly increased percentages of CD8+T cells ( P<0.05 or P <0.01) .="" in="" the="" asc="" and="" chb="" both="" hbeag-="" positive="" negative="" patients="" had="" reduced="" percentages="" of="" t="" increased="" ratios.="" no="" correlation="" was="" found="" between="" hbv="" dna="" loads="" cell="" subsets="" two="" groups="" p="">0. 05) . Conclusion TGFβ may be involved in the pathogenesis of CHB, and its immunosuppressive effect may be exerted by inhibiting T cells and antigen- presenting cell maturation.