Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2013; 19(26): 4146-4154
Published online Jul 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i26.4146
Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio may alleviate HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Ying-Hua Niu, Dong-Lin Yin, Hong-Li Liu, Rui-Tian Yi, Yu-Cong Yang, Hong-An Xue, Tian-Yan Chen, Shu-Lin Zhang, Shu-Mei Lin, Ying-Ren Zhao
Ying-Hua Niu, Hong-Li Liu, Rui-Tian Yi, Tian-Yan Chen, Shu-Lin Zhang, Shu-Mei Lin, Ying-Ren Zhao, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
Dong-Lin Yin, Department of Infectious Diseases, No. 3 People’s Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Yu-Cong Yang, Molecular Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
Hong-An Xue, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Niu YH and Yin DL carried out all the experiments and analyzed results; Niu YH drafted the manuscript; Yang YC helped to perform flow cytometry; Liu HL helped to edit the manuscript; Yi RT and Zhao YR provided help in data analysis and manuscript preparation; Chen TY, Zhang SL, Xue HA and Lin SM participated in study design and critically reviewed the manuscript; Niu YH and Zhao YR revised the manuscript; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by The Major National Science and Technology Projects for Infectious Diseases (11th and 12th Five Year, China), No. 2008ZX10002-007, No. 2012ZX10002-007; and the Foundation of Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Plan Projects, No. 2011K14-09-09
Correspondence to: Dr. Ying-Ren Zhao, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China. zhaoyingren@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-29-85323634 Fax: +86-29-85323634
Received: January 15, 2013
Revised: May 27, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: July 14, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: In this study, the expression of circulating Treg and Th17 cells in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and normal controls (NC) was measured using flow cytometric analysis. The percentages of circulating Treg and Th17 cells in ACLF group increased significantly compared with that in CHB group and NC group. Furthermore, the ratio of Treg to Th17 cells increased significantly upon recovery. Our study suggests that the reverting ratio of Treg to Th17 cells at the follow-up phase of ACLF could maintain the immune system at a steady state in favour of good prognosis.