Soluble CD163 and CD163 Expression on Monocytes Associated with Chronic Hepatitis B Inflammation and HBsAg Loss

Background and Aims:Monocyte/macrophage-associat-ed CD163 is an indicator of the severity of liver inflam-mation and cirrhosis,but the difference of soluble CD163(sCD163)levels in chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients and hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)-loss patients is un-clear.Herein,we aimed to compare the sCD163 levels in CHB patients and HBsAg-loss patients with or without an-tiviral treatment.Methods:sCD163 and CD163 expres-sion on monocytes were compared among four groups,healthy subjects,treatment-naïve CHB patients,sponta-neous HBsAg-loss patients,and treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients.The correlation between sCD163 levels and clinical parameters in CHB patients was analyzed.A group of 80 patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and liver biopsy were recruited.Results:sCD163 levels were higher in the CHB group than in the other three groups.sCD163 levels were higher in treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients than in spontaneous HBsAg-loss patients.sCD163 levels were negatively correlated with hepatitis B e-antigen(HBeAg)and HBsAg levels in HBeAg-positive patients.Liv-er biopsy results further demonstrated that sCD163 levels were elevated in CHB patients with substantial inflamma-tion(A≥2)or fibrosis(F≥2).The sCD163 model was more sensitive in predicting inflammation than other noninvasive models.Its levels were higher in patients with normal ala-nine aminotransferase levels and significant inflammation(A≥2)than in patients with no or mild inflammation.Con-clusions:sCD163 and CD163 expression on monocytes were associated with CHB inflammation and HBsAg loss,and may be used as markers to predict HBV-specific im-mune activation.