Relationship between Balance of Helper T Lymphocyte 1/Helper T Lymphocyte 2 Cells and Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective To explore the relationship between balance of helper T lymphocyte(Th)1/Th2 cells and chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The production of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-10(IL-10)by Th1 and Th2 cells were measured in 42 children with CHB.Blood samples were obtained in active stage and recoverd stage of hepatitis.The same indexes were detected in 15 healthy children as controls.Results In recoverd stage,the levels of IFN-γ,TNF-α were lower than those in active stage(P_a0.01)and controls(P0.01,0.05).IL-10 had no significantly difference between active stage and recoverd stage(P0.05).But in controls,IL-10 was found to be reliably lower as compared to the active stage(P0.01)and controls(P0.05).The IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-10 had no significant difference in CHB children whom had jaundice or no(P_a0.05).No association was found between IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-10 and HBV DNA or HBV procore 1 896 mutation(P0.05).Conclusions There is imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells in CHB children.Th1 cytokines are positively correlated with hepatic inflammatory activity.In the course of disease,Th2 cytokines are predominant and they have a correlation to the chronic prognosis of the illness.So we can conclude the degree and prognosis of disease by observing the change of Th1/Th2 cytokines in CHB children.