Abstract | BACKGROUND: Foxp3 protein plays a critical role in mediating the inflammatory response and can inhibit the proinflammatory IL-23/IL-17 pathway. However, the molecular interplay of Foxp3 and the IL-23/IL-17 pathway in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. To this end, we analyzed the expression patterns of Foxp3- and IL-23/IL-17 pathway-related proinflammatory cytokines in 39 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, 71 patients with CHB and 32 healthy controls. RESULTS: Foxp3 expression was found to be elevated in and mainly expressed by the CD4+ T cell sub-population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver tissues of patients with hepatitis B. The intrahepatic expression of Foxp3 strongly correlated with the copies of HBV DNA and the concentration of surface antigen, HBsAg. IL-23/IL-17 pathway-related proinflammatory cytokines were also found to be significantly increased in patients' liver tissues, as compared to healthy controls. Moreover, Foxp3 expression was strikingly correlated with the production of these cytokines in liver tissues of CHB patients. CONCLUSIONS: The closely-correlated increase of Foxp3 and IL-23/IL-17 pathway activity in HBV-infected livers suggests that the proinflammatory IL-23/IL-17 pathway had not been effectively suppressed by the host immune machinery, such as Treg (Foxp3) cells. Constitutive activation of the IL-23/17 pathway, thus, may support the chronic hepatitis B state.
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Authors | Qinghong Wang, Yanhua Zheng, Zemin Huang, Yi Tian, Jijun Zhou, Qing Mao, Yuzhang Wu, Bing Ni |
Journal | BMC immunology
(BMC Immunol)
Vol. 12
Pg. 25
(Apr 14 2011)
ISSN: 1471-2172 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21489307
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- CD4 Antigens
- FOXP3 protein, human
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
- Interleukin-17
- Interleukin-23
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- CD4 Antigens
(biosynthesis)
- Female
- Forkhead Transcription Factors
(genetics, immunology, metabolism)
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hepatitis B virus
(pathogenicity, physiology)
- Hepatitis, Chronic
(immunology, pathology, physiopathology)
- Humans
- Interleukin-17
(genetics, immunology, metabolism)
- Interleukin-23
(genetics, immunology, metabolism)
- Liver
(immunology, metabolism, pathology, virology)
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Male
- Signal Transduction
(immunology)
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
(immunology, metabolism, pathology)
- Virus Replication
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