Comparative expression of inflammatory and apoptotic biosignatures in chronic-HBV patients with and without liver cirrhosis
Muttiah Barathan 1 , Behnaz Riazalhosseini 2 , Thevambiga Iyadorai 3 , Kumutha Malar Vellasamy 4 , Jamuna Vadivelu 5 , Li-Yen Chang 6 , Ahmad Khusairy Zulpa 7 , Marie Larsson 8 , Esaki M Shankar 9 , Rosmawati Mohamed 10
Affiliations
Affiliations
1
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
2
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
3
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
4
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
5
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
6
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
7
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
8
Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: [email protected].
9
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
10
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 34619310 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105231
Abstract
The interplay of immune mediators is paramount to optimal host anti-viral immune responses, especially against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here, we investigated the dynamic changes in host immune responses in chronic HBV-infected individuals with and without liver cirrhosis by examining the signatures of apoptosis and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and cytotoxic proteins. A total of 40 chronic HBV patients with and without liver cirrhosis were studied for plasma levels of immune mediators, and signatures of apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with chronic HBV with liver cirrhosis was relatively higher as compared to chronic HBV patients. The onset of apoptosis was sustained due to ongoing liver inflammation in concert with plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Plasma VEGF was upregulated among chronic HBV patients with liver cirrhosis, whereas CCL2, CCL5 and granzyme B levels were down-regulated. High levels of ROS, IL-6 and TNF-α correlated with ongoing inflammation among chronic HBV patients with liver cirrhosis, which likely attributed to the expression of biosignatures of apoptosis and activation in immune cells.