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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cytokines and Soluble Mediators in Immunity
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1511855

PgRNA closely correlates to cytokine profile in HBeAg-positive pregnant women undergoing prophylactic antiviral intervention

Provisionally accepted
Qiao Tang Qiao Tang 1,2Chun-rui Wang Chun-rui Wang 1,2Hu Li Hu Li 2Zhi-wei Chen Zhi-wei Chen 1,2Xiao-qing Liu Xiao-qing Liu 1,2Yun-ling Xue Yun-ling Xue 1Yue Qiu Yue Qiu 1Yi Zeng Yi Zeng 1Peng Hu Peng Hu 1,3*
  • 1 Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
  • 2 Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , China, Chongqing, China
  • 3 First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Previous studies primarily focused on the effects of ALT and virology, but there is a lack of research on the correlations of HBcrAg and pgRNA, two novel virologic markers, with immunological parameters in pregnant women with CHB undergoing prophylactic antiviral intervention. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 28 HBeAg-positive pregnant women with CHB undergoing prophylactic antiviral intervention. Clinical data, virological markers (HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, HBcrAg and pgRNA) and 28 cytokines were detected at three time points: 24-28 weeks gestation (before prophylactic antiviral intervention), near birth and within 3 months postpartum. Results: PgRNA was moderately (correlation coefficient between 0.4 and 0.6) positively correlated with Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ, IL12p70, IL2, and TNF-α), Th17-type cytokines (IL21), Th2-type cytokines (IL10, IL4, and IL5), and cytokines regulating cell proliferation and differentiation (CTLA4, IL15, IL23, and TGF-β1) and moderately negatively correlated with EGF (correlation coefficient = -0.4), while ALT, HBV-DNA, HBsAg and HBcrAg were insignificantly correlated with cytokines at 24-28 weeks of gestation . Most cytokines tended to be elevated, with statistically significant increases observed only for the chemokines IP10 and MCP-1 during pregnancy. Most cytokines were significantly increased in postpartum women with virologic rebound after treatment discontinuation postpartum, but no significant change in the Th1/Th2 ratio. Changes in virologic markers were significantly correlated with cytokines. Immune activation was more pronounced in postpartum women who developed ALT flare compared to who did not, with Th1-type cytokines (especially IL12p40) and chemokines being main differential cytokines. Conclusion: PgRNA was more closely correlated with cytokine profiles, and postpartum ALT flare may be the result of the interaction between Th1-type cytokines and chemokines.

    Keywords: cytokine, immune, PgRNA, HBcrAg, Pregnancy, Hepatitis B virus, Chronic hepatitis B, ALT flare

    Received: 15 Oct 2024; Accepted: 29 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tang, Wang, Li, Chen, Liu, Xue, Qiu, Zeng and Hu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Peng Hu, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

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