Influence of serum HBV-DNA content on the expression of TGF-β1 and TNF-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective: To study the relationship between the serum HBV-DNA content and levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as well as the degree of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Serum HBV-DNA content quantification was determined with PCR-real time fluorescence method; TGF-β1 and TNF-α with ELISA and the hepatic fibrosis indicators HA, LN, IV-C, P-III with RIA. Altogether 89 patients with clinical chronic hepatitis B of various degrees (mild 25, moderate 35, advanced 29) were tested. Results: With the progress of hepatic injury, the serum contents of HBV-DNA, TGF-β1, TNF-α were correspondingly increased with significant differences among the patients groups (p<0.01). The TGF-β1, TNF-α, HA, IV-C, PC III, levels were positively correlated to the degree of hepatic injury with r=0.9561, 0.8123, 0.8561, 0.7723, 0.7150 respectively and p<0.01; for LN it was r=0.542 and p<0.05. Conclusion: In patients with chronic hepatitis B, hepatic fibrosis is the fundamental process in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. High concentration of HBV is the crucial factor for development of hepatic fibrosis, which works synergically with many cytokines especially TGF-β1 and TNF-α