Published online Jan 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i3.482
Revised: July 8, 2005
Accepted: July 15, 2005
Published online: January 21, 2006
AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level and anti-HBc in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
METHODS: Sera from 100 patients with chronic HBV infection and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The patients were divided into group A [HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+) and anti-HBc (+), n = 50] and group B [HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+) and anti-HBc (–), n = 50]. sIL-2R levels were determined using ELISA. HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also detected.
RESULTS: Serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic HBV infection than in healthy controls. Moreover, serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in patients with HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+) and anti-HBc (+) (976.56±213.51×103 U/L) than in patients with HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+) and anti-HBc (–) (393.41 ± 189.54×103 U/L, P < 0.01). A significant relationship was found between serum sIL-2R and ALT levels (P < 0.01) in patients with chronic HBV infection, but there was no correlation between sIL-2R and HBV DNA levels. The anti-HBc status was significantly related to the age of patients (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: The high sIL-2R level is related to positive anti-HBc in chronic hepatitis B patients. Positive anti-HBc may be related to T-lymphocyte activation and negative anti-HBc may imply immune tolerance in these patients.