Effect of the nucleoside analogues in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and its correlation with regulatory T cells of peripheral blood

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression levels of regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients during the treatment with nucleoside analogues, and its clinical significance.

MethodsThe ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Tregs in 130 CHB patients treated with nucleoside analogues was detected using flow cytometry before treatment and after 48 weeks of treatment.

ResultsBefore treatment, the differences of the levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg among immune tolerance group, immune clearance group and healthy control group were statistically significant (P < 0.01), the differences of the levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg between immune tolerance group, and immune clearance group, healthy control group were statistically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), but the difference of the level CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg between immune clearance group and healthy control group was not statistically significant (P>0.05).After 48 weeks of treatment, the differences of the levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg among HBeAg unchanged group, HBeAg conversion negative group, HBeAg serum conversion group and healthy control group were statistically significant (P < 0.05), the differences of the levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg between HBeAg unchanged group and HBeAg conversion negative group, healthy control group were statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the differences of the levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg among HBeAg conversion negative group, HBeAg serum conversion group and healthy control group were not statistically significant (P>0.05).After 48 weeks of treatment, the difference of the level of Treg between HBV normalization group and HBV no normalization group was not statistically significant (P>0.05), and the difference of the level of Treg between ALT normalization group and ALT no normalization group was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

ConclusionsDuring the treatment of CHB patients with nucleoside analogues, the level of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^Low/- Treg may be related to the HBeAg seroconversion and HBV normalization, which has certain predictive value in the efficacy and prognosis of disease.