Relationship between serum VEGF, TK-1, T lymphocyte subsets and the occurrence, progression of hepatitis B virus-related liver disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), soluble thymidine kinase-1(TK-1), T lymphocyte subsets and the occurrence, progression of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related liver disease.

MethodsA total of 188 patients with HBV-related liver disease were selected, including 52 patients with simple hepatitis B, 40 patients with liver fibrosis, 56 patients with liver cirrhosis and 40 patients with liver cancer.Another 30 healthy people were selected as the control group.The HBV-DNA load was detected by PCR, the level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was determined by routine biochemical method, the level of VEGF and TK-1 was detected by ELISA, and T lymphocyte subsets including the percentage of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were analyzed by flow cytometry.

ResultsThere was no significant difference in HBV-DNA load, level of ALT and AST among simple hepatitis B group, liver fibrosis group, liver cirrhosis group and liver cancer group(P>0.05).The level of VEGF, TK-1 and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in liver cancer group, liver cirrhosis group, liver fibrosis group, simple hepatitis B group and control group decreased gradually, the difference of which was statistically significant(P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in the level of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ in each group(P>0.05).In the serum of patents with HBV-related liver disease, VEGF level was significantly positively correlated with TK-1 level(r=0.745, P<0.01), VEGF level was significantly negatively correlated with CD4⁺/CD8⁺(r=-0.217, P<0.01), and TK-1 level was significantly negatively correlated with CD4⁺/CD8⁺(r=-0.208, P<0.01).

ConclusionsThe level of VEGF, TK-1 and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in the serum of patients with HBV-related liver disease is related to the occurrence and progression of the disease.The up-regulation of VEGF, TK-1 and down-regulation of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ may be involved in the occurrence and progression of hepatitis B, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.