Journal of

Introduction: Host immune responses are considered as an an important factor concerning the progression of HBV infection. B cells population following Hepatitis B infection has received scant attention. A Poroliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) can be introduced as a stimulator of B cell activities. Therefore, this study intended to investigate the proportion of IgD positive B lymphocytes in liver as well as to determine the level of APRIL serum in relation to the clinical findings in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Methods: Fifty-seven subjects suffering from chronic hepatitis B(CHB) were selected, who  attended the Hepatitis Clinic of Shariati Hospital. APRIL ELISA kit was used in order to measure the APRIL serum concentration. HBV DNA was quantified by RealArt^TM HBV LC PCR. Liver biopsy sections were stained with immunohistochemistry in order to indentify IgD.

Results: The mean score of liver fibrosis and inflammation was reported 4.20 according to the modified histologic activity index system. The mean score for patients with liver IgD positive B-cells was 1.9. Moreover, linear regression analysis showed that increasing the score of intrahepatic IgD positive B cells was propotionate to the increase of HBV DNA amplification, whereas it revealed a negative relationship with the APRIL serum level.

Conclusion: The study findings revealed that IgD positive B-cells imply the presence of naïve B cells, more within patients who had higher level of HBV DNA. Moreover, higher score of IgD positive B cells population was negatively related with the serum level of APRIL.