IFN-γ facilitates liver fibrogenesis by CD161⁺CD4⁺ T cells through a regenerative IL-23/IL-17 axis in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the role of CD161⁺CD4⁺ T cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods

A total of 94 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 73 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 28 healthy controls were enrolled to determine frequency, cytokine production and chemokine receptor expression of circulating CD161⁺CD4⁺ T cells. Among these, 50 CHB and 34 LC patients were followed up for a period of 52-week entecavir monotherapy to assess the association of CD161⁺CD4⁺ T cells with seroconversion of HBV e antigen (HBeAg). In addition, 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 15 with hepatic haemangioma (HHA) were enrolled to compare the paired circulating and intrahepati

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8563156 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature