Abstract:

Objective To investigate the changes of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells(Tregs) in the peripheral blood and liver during acute liver failure. Methods By using flow cytometry, the peripheral blood in 10 cases of acute liver failure patients and five healthy controls were analyzed. The Balb/C mice were randomly divided into acute liver failure 1 d, 3 d, 7 d group and normal control group. The model of acute liver failure was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride(CCL₄), at the same time, the control group was injected with an equal amount of 0.9% sodium chloride. The serum was collected for detecting ALT and AST. The pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by HE staining. The changes of peripheral blood and liver tissue infiltration of Tregs were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Compared with normal persons, the Tregs frequency in peripheral blood of acute liver failure decreased, (3.23±1.87) vs (6.08±1.45), P<0.05. Certainly, in animal experiment, the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood of ALF, CD25⁺Foxp3⁺/CD4⁺, decreased compared to controls〔(3.80±1.59)%, (5.23±1.32)%, (3.34±1.05)% vs (5.93±0.25)%; P>0.05, P>0.05, P>0.05〕. However, the flow cytometric analysis showed that Tregs frequency, CD25⁺Foxp3⁺/CD4⁺, was higher in mouse liver of acute liver failure 1 d, 3 d and 7 d than the control group〔(3.73±1.73)%, (5.93±0.60)%, (11.16±4.65)% vs (3.33±0.99)%; P>0.05, P>0.05, P <0.05〕. Conclusion In acute liver failure, intrahepatic CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells showed an increasing trend, while decreased in peripheral blood in mice and patients. Tregs may have a certain correlation with the incidence of acute liver failure.

Key words: acute liver failure, regulatory T cells, flow cytometry