Association among cytokine profiles of innate and adaptive immune responses and clinical-virological features in untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B
Abstract Background Complete clearance of intracellular viruses depends on effector cells of innate and adaptive immune system. This study aimed to identify the relationship between antiviral cytokines produced by natural killer (NK) and T cells and clinical-virological characteristics in untreated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods We measured antiviral cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced by T, NK and natural killer T (NKT) cells in a cohort of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB). We also correlated these cytokines with clinical-virological characteristics using a linear regression model. Results IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly higher in immune active (IA) than other phases. Immune tolerant (IT) patients showed the least expression of IFN-γ+ by NK and NKT cells, and TNF-α+ by NK cells. IFN-γ+, TNF-α+ and IL-2+ by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were comparable between IA and gray zones (GZ) phases. Principal component analysis based on cytokines confirmed that most IT patients significantly differ from inactive carriers (IC) and IA patients, while GZ patients were widely scattered. Multivariate analysis showed both T and NK cells producing IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+, but not IL-2+, had significant association with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Moreover, IFN-γ+ by NKT cells was associated with HBV DNA, while IFN-γ+ by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had correlation with age. Conclusion HBV clinical phases are characterized by distinct cytokines signatures, which showed little relationship to viral features at a single time point in these untreated CHB patients.