Soluble MICB protein levels and platelet counts during hepatitis B virus infection and response to hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 25
• Main Authors: Tong, Hoang Van, Song, Le Huu, Hoan, Nghiem Xuan, Cuong, Bui Khac, Sy, Bui Tien, Son, Ho Anh, Quyet, Do, Binh, Vu Quoc, Kremsner, Peter G, Bock, Claus Thomas, Velavan, Thirumalaisamy P, Toan, Nguyen Linh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 23.01.2015; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - virology; Care and treatment; Case-Control Studies; Combined Modality Therapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Development and progression; Disease Progression; Drug therapy; Female; Health aspects; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis B, Chronic - complications; Hepatoma; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - blood; Humans; Liver; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Liver Neoplasms - virology; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Platelet Count; Prognosis; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-0754-x

The human major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) is a protein that modulates the NK and T cell activation through the NKG2D receptor and is related to several diseases including cancer. The study investigated the prognostic role of soluble MICB (sMICB) protein in the progression of HBV-related liver diseases and to HBV-related HCC treatment. The sMICB serum levels were measured in 266 chronic HBV-infected Vietnamese patients and in healthy controls, and correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters and with therapeutic interventions for HBV-related HCC. Significant differences in both clinical and laboratory parameters were observed among the patient groups with different stages of hepatitis. The platelet counts were significantly decreased with disease progression (P < 0.001). The sMICB serum levels were significantly increased in HBV patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Among the patients with different stages of hepatitis, asymptomatic individuals (ASYM) revealed higher sMICB serum levels while liver cirrhosis (LC) patients revealed lower sMICB serum levels (P < 0.0001) compared to other patient groups. Notably, the sMICB serum levels were decreased in treated HCC patient group compared to not-treated HCC patient group (P = 0.05). Additionally, the sMICB levels were significantly correlated with platelet counts in ASYM and HCC patients (r = -0.37, P = 0.009; and r = 0.22, P = 0.025, respectively). Our results demonstrate a potential role of sMICB serum levels and platelet counts during immune response to the HBV infection, liver disease progression and response to the HCC treatment.