Abstract
Objectives: The biomarkers of an immunological dysregulation due to a chronic HBV infection are indeed understudied. If untreated, this condition may evolve into liver impairment co-occurring with extrahepatic involvements. Here, we aim to identify a new panel of biomarkers [including immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, RF, and Free Light Chains (FLCs)] that may be useful and reliable for clinical evaluation of HBV-related cryoglobulinemia.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed clinical data from 44 HBV-positive patients. The patients were stratified (according to the presence/absence of mixed cryoglobulinemia) into two groups: 22 with cryoglobulins (CGs) and 22 without CGs. Samples from 20 healthy blood donors (HDs) were used as negative controls. Serum samples were tested for IgG subclasses, RF (-IgM, -IgG, and -IgA type), and FLCs.
Results: We detected a strikingly different distribution of serum IgG subclasses between HDs and HBV-positive patients, together with different RF isotypes; in addition, FLCs were significantly increased in HBV-positive patients compared with HDs, while no significant difference was shown between HBV-positive patients with/without mixed cryoglobulinemia.
Conclusion: The immune-inflammatory response triggered by HBV may be monitored by a peculiar profile of biomarkers. Our results open a new perspective in the precision medicine era; in these challenging times, they could also be employed to monitor the clinical course of those COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of HBV reactivation due to liver impairment and/or immunosuppressive therapies.
Keywords: HBV; IgG subclasses; free light chains; mixed cryoglobulinemia; rheumatoid factor; vasculitis.
【저자키워드】 HBV, IgG subclasses, free light chains, mixed cryoglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor, vasculitis., 【초록키워드】 IgG, Biomarker, Biomarkers, IgG subclasses, mixed cryoglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor, Blood donors, Immunoglobulin G, Clinical course, Immunoglobulin, clinical evaluation, Patient, Vasculitis, distribution, liver, patients, Inflammatory response, COVID-19 patient, Rheumatoid, high risk, LIGHT, dysregulation, open, light chains, immunosuppressive therapies, Precision, significant difference, two groups, no significant difference, serum samples, Clinical data, negative controls, Perspective, chain, serum IgG, impairment, cryoglobulinemia, HBV infection, serum sample, MONITOR, immunological, Free, significantly increased, shown, tested, identify, Sample, addition, analysed, were used, triggered, stratified, healthy blood donor, 【제목키워드】 Disease progression, Potential biomarker,