Changes in the Cytokine Profiles of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B during Antiviral Therapy

Objective To investigate the changes in the cytokine profiles of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients undergoing antiviral treatment.Methods Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive patients were treated with Pegylated interferon(PEGIFN)and entecavir(ETV).Clinical biochemistry and cytokines were detected at baseline and every 3 months.Results In all,200 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment,100 in the PEG-IFN group and 100 in the ETV group.During 3–6 months of treatment,compared with baseline,the PEG-IFN group showed a significant decrease in interferon-gamma(IFN-γ),interleukin-17 A(IL-17 A),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-10(IL-10),and transforming growth factor beta(TGF-β)(P<0.001)and a significant increase in interferon-alpha 2(IFN-α2)(P<0.001).In the ETV group,IL-10 and TGF-β1 decreased significantly(P<0.001).After 3 months,the levels of IFN-α2,IL-17 A,and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)in the PEGIFN group were significantly higher than those in the ETV group(P<0.01).The levels of IL-6 and TGF-β3 were significantly lower than those in the ETV group(P<0.01).After 6 months,the levels of IFN-α2,IFN-γ,and TNF-αin the PEG-IFN group were significantly higher than those in the ETV group(P<0.01),while the levels of IL-6 and TGF-β3 were significantly lower than those in the ETV group(P<0.01).Compared with ETV,PEG-IFN had higher HBeAg and HBsAg disappearance rates.Conclusion During antiviral therapy,a change in the cytokine profile occurred;in the aspect of immune control and functional cure,PEG-IFN was significantly better than ETV.