B-cell–associated immune profiles in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective. Previous observations on immune dysfunction in decompensated cirrhosis have raised the possibility of B-cell impairment. Methods. B-cell subsets in decompensated cirrhotic patients were investigated. Twenty-six decompensated cirrhotic patients and 26 healthy controls were included in this study. The percentages of B-cell subsets, such as mature, memory, immature B cells, and interleukin (IL)-10+-B-cell subpopulations, were measured using fluorescent activated cell sorting. B-cell–associated cytokines (IL-10, IL-21 and IL-4) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The percentage of total B cells and mature B cells increased in patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared to healthy controls. The proportions of memory B cells were significantly lower in the decompensated cirrhosis group than the control group. However, the frequency of immature B cells and the percentage of IL-10–expressing cells that were CD19+, memory, mature, or immature B cells were not significantly different between the two groups. Serum levels of IL-10, IL-21, and IL-4 were significantly lower in the decompensated cirrhosis group compared to the control group. Conclusion. These results indicate significant alterations in peripheral blood B-cell subsets in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Specifically, a profound reduction of memory B cells was observed in spite of an increase in total B-cell populations in decompensated cirrhotic patients. This implies the underlying mechanisms of impaired immune response in these patients.

Key Words:

• B-lymphocyte subsets
• immunity
• interleukin-10
• liver cirrhosis

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2013R1A1A2011680) and partly supported by a grant of the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI09C1555).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.