Correlation of intestinal endotoxemia,histaminemia and cellular immune function in patients with hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate the correlation of intestinal endotoxemia (IETM), histaminemia and cellular immune function in the patients with hepatitis B. METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected from patients with chronic hepatitis B (n=80) and healthy individuals (n=18). According to plasma endotoxin concentration, total patients were divided into two groups: ET positive and ET negative. Serum IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 concentrations were detected. In addition, the serum histamine (HA), tryptase (TS) and AP50 levels were studied. RESULTS: Compared to control group, the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased, but IL-12 and IFN-γ were decreased obviously in total patients (P<0.05). The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in ET positive group were higher than that in ET negative group (P<0.05). The level of IL-12 and IFN-γ had no statistical difference between two groups. AP50, HA and TS levels were increased significantly in total patients compared with control group, and the levels of ET positive were higher than that in ET negative group (P<0.05). Furthermore, in total patients, ET was correlated with IL-4, IL-10, AP50 and HA, respectively. HA was negatively correlated with IL-12 and IFN-γ, and correlated with AP50 and TS. In ET positive group, ET was correlated with IL-4, IL-10, AP50 and HA, respectively, which did not exist in ET negative group. CONCLUSION: AP50 may be a sign of IETM. IETM may be disbenefit to hepatitis B through activating complement, which leads to histaminemia and poor cellular immune function.