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Soluble CD163 and CD163 Expression on Monocytes Associated with Chronic Hepatitis B Inflammation and HBsAg Loss
Peilin Xie1, Bilian Yao2, Dao Huang3
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels are higher in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients than in HBsAg-loss patients. sCD163 may serve as a biomarker for predicting liver inflammation and immune activation in CHB.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Monocyte/macrophage marker CD163 is linked to liver inflammation severity.
- Soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-loss patients require clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare sCD163 levels in CHB patients versus HBsAg-loss patients.
- Investigate sCD163 in relation to antiviral treatment and HBsAg loss.
- Assess sCD163 as a predictor of liver inflammation and immune status.
Main Methods:
- Compared sCD163 and monocyte CD163 expression in four groups: healthy, treatment-naïve CHB, spontaneous HBsAg-loss, and treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients.
- Analyzed correlations between sCD163 and clinical parameters in 80 HBV-infected patients with liver biopsy.
- Evaluated sCD163 model sensitivity for predicting liver inflammation.
Main Results:
- sCD163 levels were significantly higher in CHB patients compared to all other groups.
- Treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients showed higher sCD163 than spontaneous HBsAg-loss patients.
- sCD163 levels correlated negatively with HBeAg and HBsAg in HBeAg-positive patients and were elevated with significant liver inflammation (A≥2) or fibrosis (F≥2).
Conclusions:
- sCD163 and monocyte CD163 expression are associated with CHB inflammation and HBsAg loss.
- sCD163 may serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting HBV-specific immune activation and liver inflammation.
Background And Aims:
Monocyte/macrophage-associated CD163 is an indicator of the severity of liver inflammation and cirrhosis, but the difference of soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-loss patients is unclear. Herein, we aimed to compare the sCD163 levels in CHB patients and HBsAg-loss patients with or without antiviral treatment.
Methods:
sCD163 and CD163 expression on monocytes were compared among four groups, healthy subjects, treatment-naïve CHB patients, spontaneous HBsAg-loss patients, and treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients. The correlation between sCD163 levels and clinical parameters in CHB patients was analyzed. A group of 80 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver biopsy were recruited.
Results:
sCD163 levels were higher in the CHB group than in the other three groups. sCD163 levels were higher in treatment-related HBsAg-loss patients than in spontaneous HBsAg-loss patients. sCD163 levels were negatively correlated with hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and HBsAg levels in HBeAg-positive patients. Liver biopsy results further demonstrated that sCD163 levels were elevated in CHB patients with substantial inflammation (A≥2) or fibrosis (F≥2). The sCD163 model was more sensitive in predicting inflammation than other noninvasive models. Its levels were higher in patients with normal alanine aminotransferase levels and significant inflammation (A≥2) than in patients with no or mild inflammation.
Conclusions:
sCD163 and CD163 expression on monocytes were associated with CHB inflammation and HBsAg loss, and may be used as markers to predict HBV-specific immune activation.
