Expression of B7-H1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis B patients

Objective: To investigate the expression of B7-H1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: Immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry assay were used to measure the expression of B7-H1 on peripheral blood CD3high T cells, CD19high B cells and CD14high monocytes from chronic HBV infected patients.

Results: No significant difference was observed in B7-H1 expression on T cells and B cells between chronic HBV infected patients (CHB) and health controls (HC). B7-H1-expressing CD14high cells were significantly increased in chronic HBV-infected patients (19.17-/+11.64)% as compared with healthy controls [(7.30-/+5.49)%, P<0.01]. A significant positive correlation was found between B7-H1 expression on CD14high monocytes and serum ALT levels.

Conclusions: There is no significant difference in B7-H1 expression on T cells and B cells between CHB patients and healthy subjects. B7-H1, which is up-regulated on monocytes from chronic HBV-infected patients, in positively correlated to serum ALT levels, and may play a role in the persistence of HBV infection.