慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化患者Th22细胞和IL-22的表达及意义

Expression and significance of Th22 cell and IL-22 in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver cirrhosis

目的探讨Th22细胞及相关细胞因子在慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化患者(CHB/LC)体内的表达及意义。方法选取38例CHB/LC为实验组,20例健康人为对照组。流式细胞术检测Th22细胞在实验组和对照组外周血中的比例,ELISA检测血清中IL-22的含量,荧光定量PCR检测PBMC和肝组织内各基因mRNA水平的表达。结果实验组Th22细胞数目显著高于健康人对照组(P<0.05),同时实验组血浆中IL-22的质量浓度和外周血中IL-22 mRNA的水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);CHB/LC患者肝脏组织内IL-22蛋白和α-SMA的表达量较健康人有明显增高(P<0.01;P<0.05),二者具有一定正相关,提示IL-22与肝纤维化和肝硬化密切相关。结论 Th22细胞参与了慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化的发生、发展,可能是预防和治疗肝硬化的重要靶标。

To investigate the expression and significance of Th22 cells and related cytokines in chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients with liver cirrhosis （LC）, 38 CHB/LC patients and 20 healthy individuals were employed as test group and negative control group, respectively. The frequencies of circulating Th22 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry; the serum levels of IL-22 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. IL-22 mRNA and protein levels were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and Western blot, respectively. Th22 cells showed a significantly greater number in test group than that in the negative control group （P〈0.05）. The protein concentration and mRNA levels of IL-22 in PBMC were also significantly higher in test group compared to control group （P〈0.05, P〈0.05）; the levels of IL-22 and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） in the liver of CHB/LC patients were increased significantly compared to healthy individuals （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）, and the two was positively associated, indicating an association of IL-22 with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Taken together, Th22 cells is involved in cirrhosis occurrence and development in chronic hepatitis B patients, which may be an important target for prevention and treatment of liver cirrhosis.