[Hepatitis B e antigen from chronic hepatitis B patients induces Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in vitro].

Objective: To study the immunoregulatory effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) on peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs).

Methods: PBMCs were isolated from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB; both HBeAg- and HBeAg+) and healthy controls, and cultured with recombinant HBeAg. The HBeAg-induced changes in expression of PD-1/PD-L1 were measured by flow cytometry of the cells and in secreted cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the supernatants.

[The influence of hepatitis B e antigen on the expression of toll-like receptor 2 on peripheral monocytes].

Objectives: In order to investigate the relationship among the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), hepatitis B e antigen and HBV DNA, the expression levels of TLR2 on peripheral blood monocytes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients as well as on their monocytes stimulated by ligand of TLR2 (Pam3CSK4) and HBeAg were analyzed.

Methods: Sixty-eight adults with CHB were enrolled, including 37 HBeAg-positive patients, 17 HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA negative patients, and 14 HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA positive patients. Sixteen healthy volunteers were also studied as controls.