Hepatocyte proliferation favors viral clearance in young children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Limin Wang # 1 , Shuhong Liu # 2 , Chunya Wang # 3 , Min Zhu 4 , Yupeng Guo 5 , Pan Zhao 2
Affiliations
Affiliations
1
Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
2
The Fifth Medical Center (formerly Beijing 302 Hospital), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
3
Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
4
The Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
5
College of Public Health, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China.
#
Contributed equally.
PMID: 36239417 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16572
Abstract
Aim: To explore the correlation between hepatocyte proliferation and hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance in young children with chronic HBV infection.
Methods: We collected liver biopsy samples and clinical data corresponding to paediatric patients with chronic HBV infection. Ki-67 expression in liver tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.
Results: Eighteen patients were included and were divided into 2 groups based on different antiviral outcomes. Group I achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss within 48 weeks. Group II did not develop seroconversion from hepatitis B e (HBe) antigen to anti-HBe after 48 weeks. There were 10 patients in Group I and 8 in Group II, respectively. Demographical data and baseline virological and biochemical characteristics in serum across Group I and Group II were not statistically different. Histologically, mean Ki-67 expression index in Group I was 15%, while the mean index in Group II was 5%. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01).
Conclusion: High Ki-67 expression can contribute to viral clearance in young children with chronic HBV infection. This is the first confirmation of the association between hepatocyte proliferation and HBV clearance in vivo and has implications for novel therapeutic strategies against hepatitis B.
Keywords: Ki-67; children; hepatitis B virus; viral clearance.
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